Helping Others Receive The Gift

P
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Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
CONTENTS
Contributors ..............................................................7
Foreword ....................................................................9
Chapter One ..................................................................13

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF MINISTERING SPIRIT BAPTISM
By Tim Enloe
Chapter Two ............................................................27

CONFESSIONS OF A CHRONIC SEEKER
By Randy Hurst
Chapter Three ................................................................39

PREPARING YOURSELF TO HELP OTHERS
By Ken Cramer
Chapter Four..................................................................47
PARTNERING WITH SEEKERS
By Judi Bullock
Chapter Five ..................................................................55

FOSTERING A SETTING FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE
By Scott Erickson
Chapter Six ....................................................................63

ENCOURAGEMENT IN RECEIVING THE GIFT
By Bill Juoni
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Chapter Seven ................................................................69
THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM AND CHILDREN
By Dick Gruber
Chapter Eight ................................................................81

COMMUNICATING THE CHARACTER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO KIDS
By Jim Gerhold
YOUTH MINISTRY
Chapter Nine..................................................................89
COMMUNICATING THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT TO STUDENTS
By Allen Griffin
Chapter Ten....................................................................99
PREPARING A LEADERSHIP TEAM
By Nate Ruch
CONTRIBUTORS
Judi Bullock has served with her husband, Warren, as
pastor of four churches as well as superintendent of the
Northwest District. They are currently pastoring the Northwest
Family Church in Auburn, Washington, where she is Women’s
Ministries Director.
Ken Cramer and his wife, Holly, have a mandate from

God on their lives to raise up one hundred sons and daughters for
fulltime ministry. They are accomplishing this through the min-
istry of Lighthouse Worship Center in Gloucester, Virginia, where
they serve as senior pastors. www.lighthouseworshipcenter.com
Tim Enloe, and his wife, Rochelle, conduct Holy Spirit

conferences which emphasize a practical, nonmystical approach
to the Holy Spirit’s power and giftings. Many people experience
salvation, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and healing as the Enloes
minister in song, teaching, and during extended times of seeking
God around the altars. www.enloeministries.org
Scott Erickson has served as senior pastor of the Peoples

Church in Salem, Oregon since 2000. He also serves as an exec-
utive presbyter for the Oregon District and has been involved in
crusades and leadership training in forty-eight nations.
www.peopleschurch.com
Jim Gerhold has served as a children’s pastor for most of

his ministry as well the children’s ministries coordinator for the
Assemblies of God. He is currently on staff at Park Crest Assembly
in Springfield, Missouri. www.kidnique.com
HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 7

Allen Griffin has been ministering as an itinerant revival-
ist and evangelist throughout the United States and
internationally for fourteen years. Allen and his wife,
Hashmareen, have two sons and reside in Daytona Beach, Florida.
www.AGMinistries.com
Dick Gruber has served in leadership in children’s min-

istries since March 1975. Since June of 2001, he has served as the
children’s ministries specialist at Valley Forge Christian College.
www.dickgruber.com or www.cmuniversity.org
Randy Hurst is Assemblies of God commissioner of evan-

gelism and communications director for Assemblies of God World
Missions. He is a missionary evangelist, and has also authored a
number of books, as well as articles in Today’s Pentecostal Evangel.
Bill Juoni served as an Assemblies of God senior pastor

for twenty years, prior to being called to the ministry of an evan-
gelist. He presently serves on the National Evangelists Committee
and as the district evangelists representative for the Wisconsin/
Northern Michigan District.
Nate Ruch served as a youth pastor from 1994 to 2003.

He currently serves as the co-director for the Center for Youth and
Leadership at North Central University. He speaks in youth
camps, conventions, and district youth pastor retreats as well as
teaching youth ministry students at NCU. www.northcentral.edu
or www.youthandleadership.com
8 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

FOREWORD
Pentecostals are at a critical crossroads concern-

ing the Holy Spirit baptism. At the heart of the issue are
these three questions regarding Spirit baptism which we simply
refer to as “the gift”:
Has the gift made a difference?

Is the gift worth it?
Is the gift essential?
The authors of this book believe the answer to all three

questions is yes.
First, has Spirit baptism made a difference in the effec-
tiveness of the mission of the Assemblies of God? Any thoughtful
examination of our history reveals that the empowerment of the
Spirit is an intrinsic factor in what has been accomplished both
through the U.S. church and through our missionaries and frater-
nal fellowships around the world
Second, do the spiritual benefits that accompany Spirit
baptism outweigh the extremes, abuses, and embarrassment that
have been associated with some Pentecostal practices in the
past—especially concerning the manifestation of spiritual gifts?
This issue is of vital concern and must be clearly and
comprehensively addressed as ministers and local church
volunteers intentionally encourage people to seek for Spirit
baptism. This issue is addressed in Divine Order, which is being

released simultaneously with this book, and in the “Spiritual
Gifts” section of the evangelism commission’s Web site:
HolySpirit.ag.org.
Third, is Spirit baptism essential or merely beneficial to
Christian life and service? The simplest and clearest answer to this
question is found in Jesus’ instructions to His first disciples. Our
Master’s last words recorded by Luke are these: “That repentance
for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the
nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these
things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father
upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed
with power from on high” (Luke 24:47–49, NASB).
It would seem that a task as great as proclaiming Christ’s
message to all the nations should commence immediately. But
Jesus told the disciples to wait in the city to be “clothed with
power from on high.”
American Express ran a successful ad campaign that
depicted a person on a trip without the necessary resources. The
theme was “Don’t leave home without it!” Jesus was telling His
disciples essentially the same thing—that they should not begin
their mission without being equipped to accomplish the task. He
clearly implied that the fullness of the Spirit is essential to fulfill-
ing the purposes and mission to which He has called us.
This book was designed to give practical help to local
church volunteers as they do what the title states—help others
receive the gift of Spirit baptism. Those who are helped by this
book owe a special debt of gratitude to evangelist Tim Enloe who
conceived the project and brought together the contributing
authors. The touch of the Spirit is on Tim’s ministry in churches,
conferences, and also on this project.
You will find some repetition in the chapters. This is
intentional. When writers emphasized similar aspects of seeking
and receiving the Spirit’s fullness, certain points needed to be
repeated to emphasize their importance and priority.
The book consists of three sections, the first of which is
general instruction. The authors of this section—Tim Enloe, Ken
Cramer, Judi Bullock, Scott Erickson, and Bill Juoni—contributed

a wide variety of insights and observations for everyone who
desires to help others receive the gift of Spirit baptism.
The second section is directed especially to those work-
ing with children. From the beginning of our Fellowship, children
have been encouraged to seek Spirit baptism even at an early age.
Sunday School teachers, children’s pastors, and Royal Rangers
and Girls Ministries leaders will all benefit from the practical
teaching Dick Gruber and Jim Gerhold provide.
The third section, written by Allen Griffin and Nate Ruch,
is directed to those working with youth. More than at any time in
our history, youth are facing challenges for which the
empowerment of the Spirit is essential to effective Christian living
and preparing for the future.
I am certain that the insights and wisdom shared in this
book will be both theologically and practically helpful to you.
Each author wrote from many years of study in God’s Word and
practical ministry experience. Each is passionate about seeing
people experience the Spirit’s fullness. Those who contributed to
this project are praying it will result in increasing effectiveness
when instructing and praying with people as they seek the won-
derful gift of the Spirit’s fullness—not just initially, but also as an
ongoing practice of living in the Spirit.
—RANDY HURST
Assemblies of God Commissioner of Evangelism

CHAPTER ONE
THE NUTS AND BOLTS

OF MINISTERING
SPIRIT BAPTISM
By Tim Enloe
My wife, Rochelle, and I have traveled in teaching

ministry for almost fifteen years. Our emphasis is the
Holy Spirit and His work, most specifically, leading people to
understand and receive Spirit baptism. During these years, we
have consistently encountered pastors who are personally discour-
aged with preaching or teaching on this subject—let alone actually
praying with someone to receive the Baptism. On more than one
occasion, even long-tenured senior pastors have confided that they
have never successfully led someone into Spirit baptism.
The unfortunate but well-trodden path seems to follow a
course like this. At some point, the minister addresses the subject
with limited positive response. From that moment forward, this
perceived lack of response dictates how the pastor views his or her
own ability to minister on Spirit baptism. The next time the topic
comes up, the minister often approaches it from a “spiritual risk
management” perspective: “How can I talk about this without mak-
ing those who don’t receive feel badly—and how can I get through
this without feeling even more unproductive myself?” That person’s
teaching on the Baptism begins to describe the experience as
optional or, in some more unfortunate cases, as an unusual, atypi-
cal experience. It morphs from a basic step in Christian discipleship
into a spiritual aftermarket accessory—or even the apologetic
excuse for some people’s untimely outbursts in church services.

How can something that is supposed to increase the vital-
ity and effectiveness of the church come to be viewed as a source
of frustration—or even a liability? I believe that part of the prob-
lem is misconceptions. Just a few simple misunderstandings
about Spirit baptism can actually eliminate this experience from
the priorities of a minister and, therefore, the life of a church.
In our many conversations with pastors, the same simple
misconceptions seem to surface. These misconceptions are what
we’ll look at first. Then we’ll move on to the actual biblical
process of ministering and receiving this gift—where we’ll
encounter the “nuts and bolts.”
MISCONCEPTIONS
Misconception #1: When
This first basic misconception greatly hinders minis-
tering Spirit baptism and has to do with chronology.
When should a believer seek to receive the Baptism?
Isn’t it for the well-worn veteran? After all, something with so
much potential baggage surely can’t be handled by a fragile new
convert!
The church in America struggles with discipleship and
assimilation. We want results similar to the Book of Acts, but we
refuse to implement the clearly stated apostolic discipleship
model. How can we expect Acts-like results when we reject Acts-
like processes?
The two basic steps of apostolic discipleship in Acts are (1)
water baptism and (2) Spirit baptism; then teaching and fellowship
would follow. Jesus established this model; He told the newly born-
again believers to put life on hold until they had received this gift
(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4–8). The first Pentecostal outpouring was so
strongly marked by this model that it affected the preaching of that
day. Peter’s sermon thesis to the unbelievers was essentially: “If you
want to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, you need to get
saved and baptized in water first” (Acts 2:38,39). We see the

Samaritan revival in Acts 8 and the Gentile revivals in Acts 10 and
19 following the same discipleship model.
The apostle Paul admits he was intentional in putting
supernatural ministry before teaching because he didn’t want the
Corinthians’ faith to rest on the wisdom of men, but rather on
God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4,5). Paul went on to say that he
did speak a message of wisdom (teaching), but it was to the
mature—not to the beginner.
Why did they embrace such a seemingly volatile and
risky model? The answer is simple. It was the same model under
which they were discipled. Just ask Paul, whose life was altered
following an epiphany on the Damascus interstate. Jesus
prompted Ananias to begin Paul’s discipleship the same way (Acts
9:17,18).
Please don’t misunderstand me; I believe in teaching—
after all, I am a teacher by calling. But I am convinced teaching
finds a deeper resting place in the hearts of those who have spir-
itual experience.
A major reason why many avoid the apostolic disciple-
ship pattern has to do with another misconception.
Misconception #2: Why

When it comes to understanding the “why” of Spirit
baptism, I believe a major roadblock is built out of
obsessively focusing on tongues-speaking rather
than the true purpose of the gift. Why do we need to
be Spirit baptized? Is the centerpiece really tongues?
I have heard sermons that are supposed to enable and
encourage people to receive Spirit baptism digress into arguments
over Greek verbs. While the substance of the arguments is true,
the audience can easily misinterpret Spirit baptism as supplying
“power to fight” rather than “power to witness.” The purpose and
practice of the Pentecostal reality is sidelined while the theolo-
gians brain-wrestle. Many pastors may feel too frustrated to
bother entering this arena—especially when they still have two

funerals and a wedding before they can find time to study for
Sunday’s sermon. The layperson must sit back wondering why
they should even desire to receive the Baptism in the Spirit if all
they have heard is tongues issues and impractical arguments.
I frequently ask leaders, “Why would someone want to
receive Spirit baptism?” The typical answer is, “So they can speak
in tongues and have a prayer language.” Somehow we have lost
the simple purity of Pentecost. Suddenly the focus is an argument
that we have to win rather than a gateway to Spirit-empowered
ministry. The sad reality is that when many ministers see an
inkblot of a dove, the first thing that enters their minds is tongues.
I am firmly convinced the first outward sign (or initial
evidence) of Spirit baptism is speaking in unlearned languages (or
tongues). But the reason I am convinced of this is not because it
is a foundational truth of the Assemblies of God; rather, Spirit
baptism has a specific, obvious, biblical function. “Function” is
the key word, not “argument.” Our present culture has little tol-
erance for dogmatic religious types standing on soapboxes;
people want practical truth they can personally engage and imple-
ment. The good news is Spirit baptism is such a truth, easy to
understand and utilize.
The first two or three years of our ministry saw very few
people actually receiving Spirit baptism. I was so frustrated. After
all, that is what our ministry was supposed to target, yet there
seemed to be some kind of barrier. After a few days of frustration
and prayer, fasting and introspection, the Holy Spirit began to
show me I was approaching this blessing with an argument. I
began to reevaluate my approach alongside the Book of Acts, par-
ticularly the second chapter. Suddenly, the lightbulb turned on! I
began to see that the why was functional in ways I had never pre-
viously understood.
On the Day of Pentecost, they were all filled and began to
speak in unlearned languages as the Spirit empowered them.
They began to speak out God-inspired words in another language
as the Spirit enabled them. Then, some time afterwards, a group
of people gathering for the feast heard them. They had two basic
responses. Some were amazed and some thought this noisy bunch

was drunk. That’s where Acts 2:14 comes in. Peter stops speaking
to God in his unlearned, spiritual language and begins to address
the gathered crowd—probably in Aramaic or Hebrew, preaching
a most convincing and well-ordered sermon. His content was
obviously beyond his natural ability.
This is where the utilitarian function of tongues helps us
understand precisely why we need Spirit baptism: If you can trust
God to order your words in the spiritual language, how much
more can you trust Him to order your words in your own lan-
guage to unbelievers? Spirit baptism is about saying the right
things: first, the God-inspired tongues, but also in our known lan-
guages, as we prophetically minister words from God’s heart.
Since the day I began to understand Acts 2, I’ve never had
to argue the initial, physical evidence of tongues with anyone.
Biblically, tongues is a prophetic confirmation of a prophetic
anointing to be a prophetic witness. That’s why Peter explained
the event as the fulfillment of Joel’s oracle where one day every-
one could be a prophet.
Suddenly, speaking in tongues takes on a vital, functional
role for the believer who wants to be a prophetic witness. Why do
we need Spirit baptism? It’s all about God affecting what we say—
plain and simple.
We need Spirit baptism not primarily so we can speak in
tongues; we need it so we can speak to lost people. We also receive
the added benefit of communing with God in a new language.
I often encounter people who say, “I’ve received Spirit
baptism, but haven’t received the gift of tongues.” The wording of
such a statement makes it obvious they need some clarity. But, if
my response begins with correction—or an argument on why
they are wrong or why their experience is invalid, they will close
up and be polarized against biblical truth. If I genuinely appreci-
ate the Holy Spirit’s work in the person’s life and present to them
the possibility they can receive a prophetic anointing to dramati-
cally increase ministry power in their lives, they most often
discover themselves quickly experiencing Spirit baptism with its
biblical, confirming sign of tongues.
This focus on what are really secondary issues has also

produced a generation of ministers who suffer from what I call
“acute pneumaphobia.” That is, they are both convinced of the
reality of Spirit baptism with evidential tongues, but at the same
time, they are afraid it will ruin their church’s dignified reputa-
tion. Is tongues speaking a necessary drudgery or a spiritually
natural blessing? Is it like a vaccination, where you grit your teeth
while the needle is going in before you can enjoy its long-term
benefits? Do you “have to” speak in tongues or do you “get to”?
Speaking in tongues is not a liability, but a beautiful bless-
ing. But power for ministry is the main feature of Spirit baptism.
You don’t have to be afraid of tongues ruining your church if you
understand that the Baptism isn’t just so people can speak in
tongues but so they can speak to lost people with prophetic power.
If your approach to the Baptism is merely trying to con-
vince the listener of a doctrine, the response will be limited. But
if you teach that everyone can have a prophetic experience, trust-
ing God to give them the right things to say to unbelievers, you’ll
be overwhelmed at the hungry response. I have discovered that
how you approach people is critical—especially in a postmodern
generation.
Misconception #3: Where

Have you ever listened to yourself tell someone how
you were filled with the Holy Spirit? Preachers love
to use Technicolor adjectives to describe their per-
sonal experiences. Perhaps you were in the spiritual
“Area 51” when you were “beamed up” to the
mother ship, seeing heavenly visions as you were being filled. Or
maybe it wasn’t actually that grand.
I bring this up not only to confront dishonesty—no mat-
ter how well-meaning a person may be—but to convey the
dangerous assumptions the listener can draw from such descrip-
tions of otherworldly close encounters.
The where I’m addressing refers not only to the
atmosphere in which someone can receive the baptism in the

Holy Spirit, but also the actual venue. Is it only at red-hot camp
meeting “Holy Ghost nights”? Or can someone receive after eating
a stale doughnut at a men’s prayer breakfast? Is it only after the
minister has thoroughly rubbed his shoes on the wool carpet—
and adequately static-charged his fingertips—or can it happen in
someone’s car on the way to work? I believe we have over-
romanticized the reception process so much that many ordinary
folks exclude themselves from receiving.
It’s not nuclear physics; it’s simple obedience. If you are
firmly convinced that Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, then
wherever He is, it can happen—and He’s omnipresent.
One of the easiest traps to fall into is to place too much
credence upon perceived emotional responses. Many ministers
feel extreme, yet unnecessary, pressure to build emotionally
charged atmospheres, places where their own personal testimony
can be replicated for their congregations. I find it enlightening
and burden-lightening to know that the Acts accounts of Spirit
baptism never give one shred of emotional detail such as, “They
were all filled and began to speak in other tongues as they cried
precisely 1.4 ounces of tears.” It is obvious that emotional
responses are part of the way God made us, but it is also true they
are secondary phenomena. Yet we still are more moved by what
we can see rather than by the invisible reality. We have a tendency
to misrepresent how the Baptism is received and then be disap-
pointed when it doesn’t happen our way.
When you minister on Spirit baptism, there are some
exceptional days when you can almost hear the wind and see the
fire of Acts 2. These are wonderful occurrences, but they are just
that—exceptional. Many times I’ve witnessed large groups of peo-
ple receive rather quietly; that’s all right too. The point is they
receive this new power to be God’s prophetic mouthpieces.
Take your heavy backpack off! You don’t have to create a
highly charged atmosphere or be in a special meeting for people to
be filled with the Holy Spirit. The bottom line is Jesus is the
Baptizer, and He wants to show himself to people as their personal
Baptizer in the Spirit today. Why not seize more opportunities—
even nontraditional ones—to lead people into Spirit baptism?

Misconception # 4: Who
This final reoccurring misconception has to do with
the minister’s self-concept. Many fall into the trap of
believing they need a special gift to minister Spirit
baptism—a gift they don’t think they possess.
Nothing could be further from the truth; only Jesus
can baptize in the Holy Spirit.
It is true God gives unique spiritual passions to individu-
als and that special levels of faith can be cultivated for any area of
ministry (evangelism, healing, compassion ministries, Spirit bap-
tism, etc.). However, in ministering Spirit baptism—just as in
witnessing—we merely present the truth and guide the way, but
Jesus does the supernatural part. He always does the hard part.
Like any spiritual process, you will become more at ease as you
gain more experience.
The premise of our ministry is simply, “Jesus wants to.”
Jesus wants to save; Jesus wants to fill; Jesus wants to heal and
restore. When you are firmly convinced that Jesus wants to fill
people with His Spirit, you realize He will—as in every other area
of ministry—supply what you lack to get the job done. He is the
One with the special gift!
I mentioned that a special level of faith could be culti-
vated in this area. Let me explain. When I was first Spirit baptized
at age twelve, I couldn’t imagine why anyone else wouldn’t want
to receive it too. I began praying for all of my friends—and a few
strangers—to receive the gift. In my zeal, God was gracious as
some were filled; however, many were not. This was most likely
due to my inexperience. Out of frustration I stumbled upon a
prayer request that has since become a heartfelt fixture in my
devotional life, “Father, give me the faith to believe that everyone
I pray for will receive this gift.” I’m not sure how it works exactly,
but I’ve discovered that when you ask anything according to
God’s will, He hears you. Why not ask Him? Since you know that
Jesus wants to baptize believers, why not partner with Him and
give Him the opportunity to empower you with a greater level of

faith? Why don’t you pause and ask Him right now?
If you’re still convinced there is a special gift necessary to
minister Spirit baptism, why don’t you ask God to give it to you?
Now that we’ve looked at some of the most common mis-
conceptions, let’s move on to the actual process of ministering
Spirit baptism.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF MINISTERING

SPIRIT BAPTISM
When I say “nuts and bolts,” it could either be a euphemism for
the practical side of the matter or a direct reference to the
shenanigans that have been pulled over the years in full gospel
circles— “a bunch of nuts waiting for a bolt from heaven” (or at
least a vigorous slap on the head by an overly enthusiastic evan-
gelist). You decide.
Nuts
When I was praying to receive the baptism in the Holy
Spirit, it seemed that every evangelist who came through town
would pray for me and wrestle me to the ground. It got to the place
that whenever I’d see an evangelist, I wanted to just lie down on
the floor and get it over with! So many seekers can testify that their
personal altar workers were like Larry, Moe, and Curly—poking,
slapping, and even sometimes breaking out the anvils and mallets.
We have to laugh at ourselves sometimes.
Bolts
Is a bolt of lightning really coming from heaven? Or per-
haps a jolt from a holy defibrillator? We have to sensitively frame
a proper set of expectations for people before they receive and, at
the same time, be understanding of their fears and apprehensions.
Manners and Mannerisms

Along these lines, I encourage you to build an easy-going,
low-pressure atmosphere. Not that there is low expectancy, just

low pressure. Seekers are often tense about receiving this gift; we
don’t want to add any more unnecessary anxiety. This can be done
simply by having an understanding demeanor as you deal with
them: “I know this is all new to you, but there is no reason to be
afraid or stressed out. You want Jesus to fill you and Jesus wants
to fill you, right? It’s simple.”
Think about your own spiritual life. Do you receive from
God best when you feel tense or do you receive better when you
are at ease? You probably do better when you’re not put on the
spot, because putting people at ease makes the whole process
much easier—and more enjoyable, too. The goal is to be attuned
to both the Spirit and the seeker simultaneously.
How about having a bunch of strangers ruffle your hair
and wrinkle your clothes? Our present culture is extremely sen-
sitive about personal space, so we need to be extra cautious
about violating these invisible safety zones. This is why I almost
always ask if I can gently place a hand on the seeker’s shoulder
before I pray; a shoulder is most often a nonthreatening place to
touch. I haven’t crushed a Mohawk or deflated a bouffant yet
(though I did accidentally knock off a wig once!). We can be so
distracting in our mannerisms and lack of manners that we
become a roadblock for the person who wants to receive. Talk
about being counterproductive!
As I mentioned earlier, I frequently ask if I can gently place
a hand on the person’s shoulder. Pushiness is not a fruit of the
Spirit, but gentleness is. I have dealt with many seekers whose
experience mirrors my own. They faced an overzealous minister
trying to induce Spirit baptism by a chiropractic treatment. This is
where sensitivity to the Spirit and to the person makes a significant
difference. I will often ask a person who appears fearful to kneel
with me. In this way, the fear of “free-falling” is greatly diminished
and another distraction is eliminated. By the way, falling over does-
n’t function as biblical evidence of either Spirit baptism or as a
signpost of any stage in the process of receiving.
So, first set an intentional atmosphere with a calm,
understanding demeanor. Be careful of distracting mannerisms or
of violating the seeker’s personal space.

Anticipation and Expectations
Next, how do you tell a seeker what to anticipate without
creating a false or exceptional set of expectations? The answer is
in the Scriptures. The Book of Acts has a simple pattern that is
repeated three times when people received Spirit baptism: Acts 2
(on Pentecost), Acts 10 (at Cornelius’s house), and Acts 19 (in
Ephesus) all record the same basic pattern.
The first step in the Acts pattern is to draw near to Jesus.
The Acts recipients were focusing on Jesus as they were worship-
ping or listening to teaching about Him. Jesus was the focus
because Jesus is the Baptizer. I like to use Luke 24 as a way of
fleshing out how to focus on Jesus. Verse 53 shows us they were
pressing in and worshipping Jesus continuously—that’s a great
place to start.
The second step in the biblical pattern is that the Holy
Spirit will come upon the seeker. In Acts, at some stage in each of
the processes, the Holy Spirit came upon everyone who received.
You can trace the usage of the Greek verb epi (“to come upon”) in
conjunction with episodes of Spirit baptism in Acts. In every
occurrence the Holy Spirit came upon everyone who received.
You can confidently assure the seeker that the Holy Spirit will
come upon them at some time while they are seeking. I always
like to demystify this further, “You may or you may not be over-
come with goose bumps, but you will at least be gently aware of
His presence descending upon you at some distinct time.”
The third step in the pattern involves the seeker yielding
his voice to the Spirit’s prompting. Simply stated, the believer
gives his or her voice to God. The first step is initiated by the
seeker as he chooses to draw near to Christ in worship. The sec-
ond step is initiated by Christ as He sends the Holy Spirit upon
the hungry seeker. The third step is a cooperative effort between
the seeker and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives the ability to speak
and the person does the actual speaking.
I have consistently witnessed the benefit of letting seekers
know what to expect—so much “fear of the unknown” is then
eliminated. Even the first Pentecostals had some idea of what to
expect. As Christ had previously told them, He would “send

[them] what my Father has promised” them (Luke 24:49), that
they would be “clothed with power” (Luke 24:49), and that they
would “speak in new tongues” (Mark 16:17). Another benefit of
setting biblical expectations is that the seeker can recognize his or
her progress in the reception process.
The Real Nuts and Bolts

The first step in ministering on Spirit baptism is personal
spiritual preparation. Have you prayed about the event? Do you
have a word from God? Have you asked for His help and guidance?
Have you asked for an increase of faith for ministering the Baptism?
The second step involves the teaching or preaching.
Simplicity, not brilliance, is what helps people to receive. I have
found the more simply I define what Spirit baptism is and what it
is for, the more people want to receive it. Simplicity should also
be the watchword for the explanation on how to receive. One of
the easiest mistakes to make—and I have made this error many
times—is to preach on the Baptism and never tell anyone how to
receive it. It’s information without function. It’s like a person buy-
ing a new computer with no instructions. If you’re not sure how
to explain this, take some time and create your own bullet points,
then go over them again to make sure they are easily understood.
So, let’s assume there has been a simple teaching accu-
rately defining the purpose of Spirit baptism followed by an
equally simple explanation of how someone can receive it. The
next step is to give opportunity for people to respond and receive.
Many times I use the following procedure.
I like to make a dual application to the teaching, such as,
“In a moment we will have some prayer time for those who want
to receive this gift (specific application). But before we do that,
how many would really like to experience a fresh touch from the
Holy Spirit today (general application)?” This dual application
engages almost everyone in the room. Though not all may feel
ready to receive now and perhaps some have already received,
almost all can affirm their desire for a fresh encounter with the
Holy Spirit. When you feel the consensus in the room, invite
everyone to step forward and pray for a few minutes. Inviting

everyone to respond together also helps remove the first-time
seeker’s potential fear of being the “only needy one.”
When people begin to gather and pray, I’ll casually ask,
“How many want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit for the first
time?” When they respond, I’ll typically ask them to listen as I
restate the three steps to receive—draw near to Jesus, the Holy Spirit
will come upon the seeker, and the seeker must yield his or her
voice to God. This reinforces biblical expectations for the process.
This is where you, as the minister, can start feeling levels
of anxiety and pressure to produce results. Don’t go there. Only
Jesus can baptize someone in the Holy Spirit, so relax! You have
been obedient to proclaim this biblical truth. Now, your only job
is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to the people you are there
to help. Jesus will do the hard part.
I like to lead a simple worship chorus to help people sen-
sitize their hearts to God. Hunger plus worship equals an amazingly
easy atmosphere in which people can receive. When the song is over,
I encourage them to begin to praise Jesus out loud. In just a few
moments, people will begin to receive.
After several minutes, I will ask, “How many have
received so far and have the proof of a new spiritual language?”
After they respond, I will then say, “If you haven’t yet received,
that’s fine. Sometimes it takes a little while. However, there’s never
a wasted moment in seeking Christ. If you have a few more min-
utes, please continue to seek Him.” I’ll then begin to minister to
people individually, taking time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s lead-
ing. He will help you if you slow down and listen to His voice.
I also try to pay special attention to those who are very
introverted. Many times “loners” struggle to receive in a group set-
ting, so be sensitive to the way they are wired. I will frequently ask
such a person, “Are you more quiet in your worship? That’s fine.
Some people receive better by themselves. Do you think you can
find a quiet place where you can be alone in the next day or so?”
I encourage them to do so as soon as possible and remind them
of the three steps to receive. Many times they receive in their car
on their way home from church! They are hungry, and Jesus
wants to baptize them.

It is important to reinforce that sometimes it can take a
little while because some personalities are very impatient and can
easily become frustrated, or worse yet, discouraged.
Finally, I instruct those who have received to try out their
new prophetic power as soon as possible. “Visit with a lost person
and give God the opportunity to speak through you in the next
day or so. You now have proof that you can say what God wants
you to say.” Otherwise, they can follow the path of many previous
Pentecostals and think it is okay to have the power and to do noth-
ing with it. We don’t need any more “pew potatoes.” People who
have experienced the Holy Spirit’s power yet refuse to be obedient
to witness tend to get rather frustrated and infectiously grumpy.
CONCLUSION
I am absolutely convinced from the Scriptures and
personal experience that God is still moving in
Pentecostal power. I am equally convinced we must
contend for a fresh demonstration of His power in
our churches and our communities. We must cling
to the biblical imperatives of Spirit baptism and its accompanying
sign of tongues speaking; but we must also frame these truths in
the practical, utilitarian ways the Bible presents.
If you don’t think the models you’ve witnessed in the past
would fly in your church context, don’t throw the truth out with
the bad model. Strategize with the Holy Spirit. Let Him anoint you
with creativity to present and minister this truth in unique, non-
traditional ways. After all, we can’t do the job without the power.

CHAPTER TWO
CONFESSIONS OF A
CHRONIC SEEKER
By Randy Hurst
In my Pentecostal upbringing, I really wanted the

Holy Spirit baptism, but I didn’t receive it for seven
years. I was what some people referred to as a “chronic seeker.”
It wasn’t until I reached a point of desperation for what only the
Spirit could provide that I finally received.
There were a number of reasons why I believe it took me
so long to receive. Much of the problem was misunderstanding. By
understanding certain facts about the Holy Spirit baptism, I
believe I would have received much sooner. Here are some things
I wish I had understood.
THE PURPOSE OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
For the seven years I waited, I was wanting the Holy Spirit bap-
tism for the wrong reason. I wanted it simply so I could say that
I had it. For the most part, the purpose of this wonderful blessing
escaped me. I wrongly viewed the Baptism as a point of arrival
instead of what it is—a point of entrance into a life of Spirit-
empowered witness for Christ.
Jesus clearly stated that the essential purpose of the Spirit’s

empowerment is to be His witnesses. The Holy Spirit baptism is a
gift to all believers. But receiving the gift is not a guarantee that the
promised power will be used for its intended purpose.
I heard an intriguing fact on the radio: 95 percent of all
sport utility vehicles sold in the United States are never taken off-
road. Of course, during Minnesota winters, four-wheel drive is a
great help in snow and even on city streets. But why would some-
one need four-wheel drive on the freeways of Southern
California? These vehicles were equipped for a purpose for which
most are rarely, if ever, used.
This illustration can compare to many people’s experience
concerning the Holy Spirit baptism. They receive this wonderful
gift, yet they don’t put it into action or even fully understand the
purpose for which this equipping power was given.
Jesus’ promise to His followers was that they would be
His witnesses wherever they went. Unfortunately, many equate
being a witness merely with their speech, or what has come to be
termed “witnessing.” But effectiveness in reaching the spiritually
lost requires a witness beyond words.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Thessalonica:
“Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know
what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake”
(1 Thessalonians 1:5, NASB).
Paul’s witness was not merely what he said (“not…in
word only”), but also how he said it (“in power and in the Holy
Spirit and with full conviction”) and who he was (“you know
what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake”).
The Holy Spirit empowers our witness in what we say. As
He did for the New Testament Christians after the Day of Pentecost,
the Spirit gives us the internal motivation to speak about Jesus, con-
fident in His (the Spirit’s) convincing work. The early Christians
prayed for that kind of help: “Grant that Your bond-servants may
speak Your word with all confidence” (Acts 4:29, NASB).
The Holy Spirit also helps us in how we speak. He moves
us in our witness with a sincere, compelling passion.
And the Holy Spirit enables our character to become

what God has called us to be as the fruit of the Spirit—the nature
of Jesus Christ—becomes evident in our lives.
JESUS IS THE BAPTIZER

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples,
Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the
dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would
be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending
forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:46–49,
NASB, emphasis added).
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached, “God has raised

this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the
right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised
Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts
2:32,33, NASB, emphasis added). Notice that Jesus is the Baptizer!
Part of my problem for years was that I was seeking an
experience rather than the Person who gives that experience.
When people seek for the Baptism, they should shut the door on
outside distractions and center their minds and hearts on Jesus.
He is the Baptizer, and He will fill them.
THE NATURE OF THE

SPIRIT’S EMPOWERMENT
People often think of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment only in
terms of signs and wonders and spiritual gifts. But the word trans-
lated “power” in Acts 1:8 is wonderfully comprehensive. It simply
means “ability” and applies in practical ways to everyday life.
The Holy Spirit supplies whatever it takes to help us accom-
plish what is needed. That is all we really need—whatever it takes.

The Holy Spirit enables ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
The power Jesus promised His followers is for every
aspect of Christian living, enabling us to do and be whatever our
Lord has purposed in our lives.
THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM IS A GIFT

The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. The apostle
Peter said, “The promise is for you and your children and for all
who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts
2:39, NASB).
I believe many seekers of the Holy Spirit baptism struggle
with the same issue I did—the belief or feeling that we have to be
“good enough” to receive the gift. Simply put, the Holy Spirit bap-
tism cannot be earned; it is a gift. Every believer who has been
saved by grace is qualified to receive this wonderful promise.
During the time of my youth, a teaching or idea circu-
lated among Pentecostal churches that I believe was misleading
and wrong. It stated that the Holy Spirit would only dwell in a
“clean vessel.” We believed we had to cleanse ourselves to make
us ready to receive the gift. In reality, the blood of Christ has
already cleansed us from sin. Personal battles of the flesh cannot
be won by our own efforts to prepare ourselves to receive the
Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will cleanse and transform us. When
we understand that, we can seek the Spirit and receive the won-
derful gift of the Baptism by faith alone, not by any works that
we can do.
Even so, many who know this truth intellectually are hes-
itant to seek. Some feel they don’t deserve this blessing. But the
Holy Spirit baptism is promised to every believer. The apostle
Paul taught that we receive the promise of the Spirit by faith
(Galatians 3:14).
If someone has received Jesus Christ as Savior, he or she is
already qualified to receive the Holy Spirit baptism. Seekers of the
Baptism need to understand that they don’t have to become better
than they are to deserve the gift the Lord has promised them.

Paul compares our spiritual lives to clay jars. He says,
“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpass-
ing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Clay has imperfections. So do we. God knows that. He receives
us as we are and will fill us with the Holy Spirit, who will enable
us to change.
We must recognize our need of His power. Many believ-
ers speak of needing more of God. The issue for most of us is
really that God needs more of us. Make room for His fullness by
surrendering every area of your life to Jesus’ lordship and invite
Him to fill you with the Spirit to empower you to live for Him.
THE GIFT IS RECEIVED BY FAITH

Jesus’ disciples had to wait for God to “pour out of His Spirit” as He
promised through the prophet Joel. When someone seeks Spirit
baptism today, they do not have to wait in the same way the disci-
ples did. The Spirit’s outpouring took place on the Day of Pentecost
once and for all. Now we seek His inpouring individually.
When we seek, we need not worry about having a false
experience or that when we speak in tongues it will be from our
imagination. Jesus taught:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who
seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose
one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a
snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not
give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? (Matthew 7:7–11, NASB).
The tense used in the original language of the New

Testament implies a continuous action. It means, “Keep asking, keep
seeking, keep knocking, and you will receive.” The fullness of the
Holy Spirit is a promise to every believer and is received by faith.

If people sincerely seek the Lord for what He has prom-
ised, God will give them what they ask for. Some seekers find it
helpful to have other Spirit-filled believers pray with them.
Others are more comfortable seeking alone.
WHO DOES THE SPEAKING

One of my greatest struggles was that I was, to a significant extent,
passive in my seeking—especially concerning the aspect of speak-
ing in tongues. I spent hours at the altar, “seeking” to be filled.
And even though I believe my motive was good, I was “waiting on
the Lord” to speak through me.
Scripture is very clear. The Holy Spirit enables us to speak
in tongues. He does not take control of us like a puppet. We do
the speaking. The Holy Spirit enables us to speak.
We don’t know why God chose speaking in tongues as a
sign of the Spirit’s empowerment. Some believe the reason is
found in the teaching of James, who says that “no one can tame
the tongue” (James 3:8, NASB). But that idea can actually be mis-
leading to people because they might expect the Holy Spirit to
take control of their tongue. Acts 2:4 states that: “All of them were
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them.” The Spirit “enabled”—He did not con-
trol. Although the Holy Spirit enables us, we do the speaking.
THE PURPOSES OF PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

Three dramatic signs accompanied the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost: a sound like a rushing mighty
wind, tongues of fire appearing on the believers’ heads, and
speaking with other tongues (languages). The wind and fire were
not repeated in Acts, but speaking with tongues continued to
occur when people were filled with the Spirit.
To fully understand the significance of the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, we must remember that

the Book of Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke and Acts
are actually a two-volume work concerning the lives of Jesus and
His followers. To understand the first part of Acts, we must go
back to the last part of Luke and remember Jesus’ final instruc-
tions and commands to His followers. Read Luke 24:46–49 again.
Jesus’ command was that a message of “repentance for for-
giveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations”
(verse 47). It is difficult to imagine a more convincing sign to assure
the disciples that they had truly been “clothed with power from on
high” than speaking in languages they had never learned.
A few sincere Christians have interpreted this to mean
that missionaries who are filled with the Holy Spirit do not have
to learn other languages. I know two missionaries who temporar-
ily received the miracle of being able to speak in the language of
the area where they were ministering. However, it happened only
once in their lives under very unusual circumstances and was
never repeated. Such miracles could be termed “extraordinary,”
much as Luke described the healings in Acts 19 when handker-
chiefs and aprons touched by Paul were taken to the sick. We
don’t totally understand why God uses the manifestation of
speaking in tongues, but it certainly is a sign that God is doing
something supernatural.
Scripture records that praying in tongues has several pur-
poses in the lives of Spirit-filled believers.
Confirmation
Speaking in tongues is the first outward sign of the Holy
Spirit baptism. This is found in Acts 2:4 and also in Acts 10 and
19. Acts 10 is especially instructive, because Luke records that the
Jewish believers were convinced that the Gentiles had received the
gift of the Holy Spirit when they heard them “speaking with
tongues and exalting God” (verse 46, NASB). In rare circum-
stances, the Spirit will enable a person to speak in a language that
is unknown to the speaker but known to someone who is present.
This can also be a confirmation to others—especially nonbelievers.
I grew up in East Africa where my parents were missionar-
ies. I remember well an incredible testimony concerning someone

speaking with other tongues. An African man and his wife came
forward in a church service to receive Christ. When the pastor
prayed for them, the woman was filled with the Holy Spirit. She
began to worship and praise God eloquently in English. After her
time of worship and prayer the pastor, who was fluent in English,
spoke to her in English and she didn’t understand a word.
Many years ago, my uncle Bud Abbott was leading the
regular Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting at the
Assembly of God in Superior, Wisconsin. During the prayer time,
a godly deacon who worked for the railroad began praying qui-
etly in tongues. The group fell silent and listened as he prayed in
the Spirit for about ten minutes.
When he finished praying, a visiting woman stood and gave
this testimony. Passing through town, she had seen a light in the
church and slipped in the back. A missionary to Tibet for twenty
years, she told the congregation that the deacon had been praying in
the Tibetan dialect she knew. He was praying for a Christian in
China by name who was suffering under tremendous persecution.
Adoration
Our finite minds are incapable of comprehending and
our own language is inadequate to totally express our worship to
God. Speaking in tongues, in what many refer to as a “prayer lan-
guage,” frees us to communicate the worship of our hearts that is
inexpressible in our limited vocabulary. Having been a missionary,
I can converse in more than one language, but I still run out of
words in worship to God. When I pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit
bears witness with my spirit that the worship of my heart is being
communicated with His help.
Edification
Praying in the Spirit edifies—builds up—in two ways: It
edifies the individual who prays in the Spirit, and if interpreted,
it edifies the church. Paul stated that he spoke in tongues more
than all of the Corinthians, yet he reminded them that in the
church setting tongues should be interpreted so that all could be
edified (1 Corinthians 14:5). This does not restrict the private use

of tongues for personal edification, because praying in tongues
builds up the believer spiritually.
With the stresses, pressures, and challenges of life, we
have the blessing of praying in the Spirit beyond our own wisdom
and understanding. The best way to begin every day is with
prayer. The gift of praying in tongues enables us to pray beyond
ourselves for each day, not knowing what we will face. The Holy
Spirit prays through us to effectively seek God’s divine help in
everyday living.
Intercession
“The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know
how to pray as we should” (Romans 8:26, NASB). When we pray
in the Spirit, He enables us to pray beyond our understanding.
Paul said, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the
Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance
and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18, NASB). God uses
us to work His purposes in the lives of others through the min-
istry of intercession.
Petition
The Spirit prays through us and for us. We are told by the
apostle Paul that we don’t know how to pray as we ought. We
don’t know what to really ask for, and we often “ask amiss”
because our motives are wrong. The Spirit both prays beyond and
transforms our motives. Consequently, in His empowerment, we
can petition the Father and Son for things the Spirit knows we
need, instead of what we think we need.
Praying in the Spirit is a wonderful part of the Holy Spirit’s
empowerment. It confirms the experience of the Holy Spirit bap-
tism, empowers us to effective worship, builds us up spiritually,
and enables us both to intercede for others and petition God for
our own needs beyond our own intelligence and wisdom.
Speaking in tongues continued to occur throughout the
Book of Acts when people were filled with the Spirit. The same is
true today. This experience is for everyone who receives the Holy
Spirit baptism.

PERSEVERANCE
I really like the wording in the Assemblies of God statement of
foundational truths regarding the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It
reads, “All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and
earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy
Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (emphasis mine). When it states that believers should
“ardently expect and earnestly seek,” it speaks not only of seeking
with expectation but doing so ardently and earnestly. We should
seek fervently but not fearfully. Persevere in faith to receive what
our Lord has promised.
If a person does not receive the Baptism immediately, he
or she should continue to seek the Lord Jesus in faith. God’s prom-
ise and desire is to baptize each believer with the Holy Spirit.
KEEP BEING FILLED

Seeking the Holy Spirit baptism is not a one-time event, but
rather a commitment to continue seeking the Spirit’s fullness for
the rest of one’s life. The Old Testament account of the Israelites’
exodus from Egypt records that God gave them bread from
heaven, called manna, to feed them during their wilderness jour-
ney. It was not a supply to be stored up and carried with them. It
was given to them as they needed it.
A life overflowing with the fullness of the Spirit is much
the same. When Paul exhorted the Ephesian Christians to be
filled with the Spirit, the tense of the verb means to “keep on
being filled.” The infilling of the Spirit should be ongoing. We
must keep praying in the Spirit, loving in the Spirit, and living in
the Spirit. The Holy Spirit baptism—as wonderful as it is—is not
a one-time experience. We need a continual inpouring of the
Spirit daily in our lives, as the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:18.

CONCLUSION
A familiar saying is “Hindsight is 20/20.” In other
words, when we look back on past experiences, we
see circumstances more clearly. We learn through
life’s lessons and are able to pass on wisdom to oth-
ers. Hopefully, you will use the insights and
Scriptures given in this chapter to help others receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit without being hindered by the misunderstandings
that kept me from receiving for seven years.

CHAPTER THREE
PREPARING YOURSELF
TO HELP OTHERS
By Ken Cramer
I served for five years under a senior pastor who

had a powerful gift of praying for people to receive
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Though he was a great
teacher, he didn’t teach them at the altar. He inspired them to seek
the Spirit at the altar and followed up with the laying on of hands.
Many people were filled with the Spirit through his ministry.
My attempts to follow in his footsteps failed miserably.
This disconnect was due mainly to my inability to inspire people
to come to the altar. I would lay hands on seekers but seldom had
success. I began reading everything I could about the Baptism in
the Spirit. I then decided to watch the crowd and target people.
I’d look to see if there was passion expressed in worship or
whether they were really pressing in to seek God. If they weren’t,
I would ask them, “Has anyone ever talked to you about being
filled with the Spirit?” Then I would take the person through the
accounts in the Book of Acts of people receiving the Spirit, and
the Word builds faith in them to receive.
I share this story because it taught me there are at least
three ways taught in Scripture for people to receive the Baptism.
The first is at an outpouring, when everyone around receives.
God moves through the preaching of the Word, people are seek-
ing, no one is laying hands on anyone, and people get filled (Acts
2; 10). Second, people in Scripture received the Baptism through

the laying on of hands (Acts 8; 9; 19). Third, and also implicit in
the foregoing passages, is through teaching and instruction. This
involves sharing the Word, personal testimony, faith building,
and removal of unsound doctrine so that the person receives.
I challenge the people I pastor to find which method
works for them in leading others into the Baptism. In our congre-
gation, we have a few young adults who just get around people
seeking the Baptism and worship with them for a few minutes
and the seekers are filled every time. In fact, these young people
tell seekers, “We won’t lay hands on you because we want you to
be totally convinced God did it.” These radical worshippers set an
atmosphere and environment that is charged with the anointing,
and people just get baptized in the Spirit.
Others in our church are more analytical. They explain
the Scriptures, lay a teaching foundation, and steadily bring oth-
ers into the experience. I believe the important thing is to explain
to the congregation that a “one-size-fits-all” ministry mentality
doesn’t work. David didn’t use Saul’s armor while giant slaying.
Likewise, if we’ll teach our people a ministry-centered mindset,
we might help them discover there are ways of doing ministry
that work for them but would never work for us. We have to be
okay with that fact.
Most importantly, I need to model to people the ministry
of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I was teaching a new members
class recently with eleven students. Most were already filled with
the Spirit and used supernatural language regularly. After I taught
on the subject of being filled with the Spirit, one person said, “Well,
you’ve answered all of the questions I had, but how do I get this?”
I only hesitated for a second before I pointed to Luke 11
and said, “It’s written here that if you ask your earthly father for
something, he will gladly give it to you. Jesus said your Heavenly
Father wants even more to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.”
Then I looked at the young man and said, “Are you ready
to ask and receive?”
His response was, “Of course.” He asked. And he
received. It was that simple. No wind, no fire, but tongues and
power, just as we should expect.

The class erupted in worship! We watched the supernat-
ural happen right there in a new members class! Several of those
new members have since led others to Spirit fullness because they
now understand the simplicity of receiving and appreciate the
necessity of being filled with God’s Spirit.
Here are some of the keys I employ when sharing how to
minister the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I encourage people who
want to be used in this way to examine their own lifestyle and let
God build them up as a person. Remember, one of the uses of the
baptism in the Spirit is for personal edification. Let me share these
keys with you.
LIVE A SPIRITUALLY DISCIPLINED LIFE

When you are speaking to someone about his or her relationship
with the Holy Spirit, you first need to consider your own relation-
ship with the Holy Spirit. I like to follow Christ’s example through
Luke 4 as He was “led by the Spirit” into the wilderness and fasted
forty days. Jesus’ fasting was under the leadership of the Spirit of
God. He was not fasting as a special sacrifice, nor was He fasting
in order to find God’s will. Jesus lived the will of God. We as
believers are in the will of God as we walk with Him daily.
No, Jesus fasted so His flesh would not be a hindrance
when He confronted the enemy. I believe every time you begin to
lead someone into Spirit baptism you will confront things that
attempt to distract and derail that person from receiving this infi-
nitely powerful gift of the Holy Spirit—misunderstandings, fears,
ignorance of the Scriptures, maybe even demonic forces.
Understand that when someone is saved, it is personal for them.
But when they are filled with the Spirit, the public message of the
resurrected Jesus will show up and really make the devil mad! In
Acts 2:33 Peter said, “This same Jesus has poured out what you
see and hear.” The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a menace to the
enemy’s methods of enslaving and entrapping because the
anointing breaks every yoke of bondage.
Jesus fasted so His sensitivity to the work of the Spirit

would be heightened and in control. Jesus said that the student is
not above his master, so occasional fasting will keep your flesh in
check and your spirit tuned in to what God wants to happen
when you are leading others into the Baptism.
LET SCRIPTURE FILL IN THE BLANKS

IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING
It is important that you spend time understanding what the
Scriptures have to say about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Be
clear and confident about what to expect so you can communi-
cate it to others. A basic rule of thumb for a clear understanding
of Scripture goes like this:
1. What did God say and do in the Old Testament?

2. What did God say and do through the ministry of
Jesus?
3. What did the Early Church in the New Testament con-
sider normal?
When it comes to the ministry of the Spirit in the Old

Testament, there are several helpful passages. Numbers 11:25–29
describes the Spirit coming upon the seventy appointed elders in
Israel. Instead of Moses guarding his position as leader, he said,
“Would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that
the LORD would put his spirit upon them” (Numbers 11:29, KJV).
Through the prophet Joel, God said, “I will pour out my
spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28, KJV). This gives you a hint of
God’s desire to be among His people.
My favorite area in Scripture to study the Baptism is the
Book of Acts. Acts 2, 8, 9, 10, and 19 all contain vital information
regarding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s work
in the Early Church.
In Acts 2, three supernatural signs accompanied the
Spirit’s outpouring: sound of wind, flames of fire, and supernatu-
ral language or speaking in tongues.

In Acts 8, Peter and John began laying hands on people
to receive the Holy Spirit. Though no outward signs are listed in
the passage, Simon, a local sorcerer, tried to buy the gift they were
handing out. He saw a business venture in the making. What did
Simon see? Obviously, some kind of reaction among the people he
interpreted as a commodity for resale in the public market!
In Acts 9, Ananias laid hands on Saul who was healed and
filled with the Spirit. By Paul’s own words in 1 Corinthians 14:18,
supernatural language was a profound part of his life.
Peter’s vision in Acts 10 prepared him to witness to the
Gentiles and invite them into a thoroughly Jewish church. Peter
went to the house of a man named Cornelius who had had his
own encounter with angels. Peter took some Jewish believers with
him to the house of an “unclean” Gentile. As Peter preached, God
took the altar call out of his hands and the Gentiles began to
speak in tongues and praise God. Peter was dumfounded. As his
legalism melted away, Peter asked, “Can anyone keep these peo-
ple from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy
Spirit just as we have” (Acts 10:47, emphasis added).
What physical sign did the Jewish believers see that
caused Peter to use the words “just as we have”? Was there a
sound of wind? No. Were there flames? No. Just people yielding
themselves and receiving their own supernatural language as the
Holy Spirit came upon them (verse 46). It was this physical evi-
dence that caused Peter and the other Jews to call for water
baptism and acceptance of the Gentiles into the church!
In Acts 19, Paul stressed once again the need for the Spirit
when he asked a group of believers, “Did you receive the Holy
Spirit when you believed?” (verse 1). So many things could have
been asked, but Paul stressed the urgency of being filled with the
Spirit. After building up the disciples’ faith, he laid hands on them
and they were filled, spoke in tongues, and prophesied.
Remember, as you meditate on the Scriptures regarding
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God will give you greater
insight and build up your faith on the subject. If you will medi-
tate on the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will give you great
confidence in what He can offer to others through you. You come

with good news! Jesus wants to use you in the power of the Holy
Spirit to further His kingdom. There is a desperate need for peo-
ple to receive the Holy Spirit’s fullness. Since Jesus is the One who
actually does the baptizing, shouldn’t we be willing and available
to assist Him by helping people prepare to receive?
ASK GOD TO REVEAL

SPIRITUAL ROADBLOCKS
Your task is like that of John the Baptist—you are there to prepare
the way of the Lord. Take out the rough places and flatten the ter-
rain so that the way is clear for people to receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus knew what was in a man. We have to know what is happen-
ing in a person before we can adequately minister to them.
Obviously, you can’t know all their thoughts, but you can ask ques-
tions and discover where they are on the subject of the Holy Spirit.
Assuming you have already led them to Christ in prayer
or have knowledge of their profession of faith, you are ready to
proceed. Sometimes asking what they have heard before about
receiving the Baptism is helpful. You might need to correct some
wrong thinking. For example, if they fail to realize that the Spirit
is here to be received (an active term) and not just to be waited
for (a passive term), they won’t be seeking effectively. Tell them
that the promise of the Holy Spirit has been fulfilled since
Pentecost and the Spirit is ready for them to receive. What are
they waiting for?
Listen carefully when you ask questions like “What have
you been taught about the Holy Spirit?” or “Have you ever asked
God to make himself real to you?” You might share an example
from Acts to build their faith in what God wants to do for them.
Think of this ministry in terms of aligning the seeker’s
spirit, soul, and body. I’ll explain. If they are born-again, their
spirit wants more of God. They are already hungry. If they have
had wrong teaching, their mind has been subjected to a wrong
understanding about the Holy Spirit and needs to line up with the
hunger of their spirit. If they are totally ignorant about the Holy

Spirit, you need to educate them. Once the mind is ready to
receive, tell them what to expect from God.
Tell them practical things without being overly emo-
tional. Prepare them to receive by saying, “You might hear words
in your spirit” or “You might feel a tension on your tongue.”
Encourage them to yield to God in praise and to open their mouth
and release the language He wants to flow through them. This
lines them up completely with what the Holy Spirit wants to do
in their spirit, soul, and body.
Give seekers as much understanding as you can, but
bring them to the place where they have to reach out in faith.
Periodically ask, “Are you ready to receive?” This helps them be
ready to step out. It might be sooner than you think.
Having shown them the five instances in Acts where the
Holy Spirit was poured out, including the three times when the
believers spoke in supernatural language, ask them, “Are you
ready to receive the Holy Spirit just as they have?” If they answer
“No” or “I’m not sure” or “I’m not ready,” ask them what they need
you to be clearer about. Don’t pray for them or lay hands on them
yet. Wait until they can say out loud, “Yes, I see it in the Word,”
or “I believe that I’ll receive when you lay hands on me like Paul
did in Acts 19.” If you don’t get their verbal affirmation and you
attempt to override their apprehension with your passion, you’ll
both be disappointed.
But when they say, “Yes, I’ll receive,” their commitment is
evident. They will be praying in a supernatural language, usually
very quickly.
Preparing yourself is important when helping others
receive the Baptism. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and dependence
on God’s Word will give you wisdom and faith as you talk and
pray with seekers. Jesus baptizes people in different settings and
in different ways, and wonderful experiences come as a result of
being prepared and following the Lord’s leading as He helps you
help others.

CHAPTER FOUR
PARTNERING WITH
SEEKERS
By Judi Bullock
One Sunday night, a lady visited Calvary Temple

in Seattle where my husband and I were pastoring.
When my husband gave the altar call, she ran down to the altar
weeping before God. I went to talk with her. She said she needed
to accept Christ as her Savior, so I prayed with her. She was glo-
riously saved. Suddenly she covered her mouth. It appeared as if
she was sticking her fingers in her mouth.
“Why are you covering your mouth?” I asked.
“These funny words are coming out,” she said, “and I
don’t know what they are. I’ve never said them before.”
I assured her, “That is the Holy Spirit.”
She had never heard about the Holy Spirit. After I gave a
quick explanation, she broke out in the most beautiful heavenly
language. She wept, cried out to God, praised, and shouted. It
was a glorious experience for her, me, and everyone present.
When she was done praying, she gave her testimony. “I
was on drugs and my son is on drugs,” she said. “I was cooking
dinner for him tonight, and God said, ‘Put your frying pan away.
You go to church.’ I heard Him as I’ve never heard anything. He
clearly spoke to me, ‘Go to church.’”
She obeyed, came to our church that night, and was
saved and filled with the Holy Spirit all in one service. God knew
exactly what she needed!

When I was growing up, my father was an evangelist. My
mom and I traveled with him as much as we could. In his revival
meetings, I used to watch my mother easily pray with people to
receive the Holy Spirit. When I was nine, I said to my friend, “I’m
going down there and I’m going to be filled with the Holy Spirit
tonight; I’m not giving up until I get it.” And that’s exactly what
happened! With hunger and a childlike faith, I received the Spirit
shortly after I went down to pray.
In my teen years, I developed a hunger to pray with peo-
ple to receive the Holy Spirit. My mother’s passion was stirring in
me. Years later, when my husband was district superintendent, I
did a workshop and taught pastors’ wives how to pray with peo-
ple to receive the Holy Spirit. I was amazed so many of them did
not know how to pray with people for this gift.
I remember one pastor making an appointment with my
husband because he wanted me to pray with a young man who was
going into the ministry, that he would receive the baptism in the
Holy Spirit. It wasn’t hard. The man knelt down by the platform
with his face to the ground, and he quietly received the Holy Spirit.
Pastors have said to me, “I need you to come and pray
with some people to be filled with the Spirit.” What’s going on here?
I thought. Why don’t these pastors do it? And then my husband said
to me, “Honey, you love to pray people through.” I never felt what
I was doing was anything special. I have no degree behind my
name; I just love to pray with people.
Then I realized something: If we do not start teaching this
to our churches and our children, we’re just one generation away
from not having our people filled with the Holy Spirit. I was on a
mission to get pastors to talk more about the Baptism and to give
time in their churches for people to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
OPPORTUNITIES
When people receive Christ, I ask, “Do you know that there’s
more for you now?” I want to immediately plant a seed in their
hearts and minds, and talk about the Holy Spirit. I want to simply

explain to them what He can do in their lives.
A wonderful opportunity for pastors’ wives is to take one
evening a year and visit the Mpact Girls Clubs (formerly
Missionettes). Just sit on the floor with the girls and tell them how
you received the Holy Spirit and what He has done in your life. I
have done this in churches we have pastored with wonderful
results. At ten different times I’ve seen girls receive the Holy Spirit
while we were all just sitting and praying. There may be other
ladies in the church who would take on this ministry. I think the
same approach would work with a man going into the Royal
Rangers groups. This is one way our churches can start planting
the seeds of hunger for the Baptism in our children. When are
kids ever going to receive unless they are given an opportunity?
I like to see children receive early in life, but they need a
personal coach (a parent or a Sunday School teacher) to teach
them about what they have received, its importance, and why
they need to speak in tongues. I like to tell young people how the
power of the Holy Spirit kept me from a lot of sinful things
teenagers can get into. I came through those years unscathed
because the power of the Holy Spirit was in me and convicted me
so that I immediately said no to sinful things.
On one occasion, I was sharing with a class of
Missionettes and several girls were filled with the Holy Spirit.
When their parents came to get them, the girls were still weeping
and speaking in tongues. Some of their parents were not
Christians and couldn’t understand what was going on.
The next day, a lady approached me and said, “I’d like
you to come and talk to us as mothers. We don’t know what hap-
pened to our girls last night, and we need to understand.”
My first feeling was that they were going to tear me apart.
But when I prayed about it, the Lord said, “Just go and share your
testimony. Share what the power of the Holy Spirit kept you from
as a teenager.” So that’s what I did!
“Ladies,” I said, “I can’t tell you everything about the Holy
Spirit, but I can tell you about my experience. I received such a
love for God, and I received the power to say no to things that
might have harmed me. My friends would be going another way

and doing wrong things, but I was able to say no. The Holy Spirit
kept me and held me, and gave me the power to be a leader
instead of a follower.”
Those five mothers sat there with tears streaming down
their faces. They said, “That’s what we want for our children.”
I told them, “This is what your girls have received, and if
they keep their prayer life strong and allow the Holy Spirit to con-
vict and guide them, they will have the same experience as I did.”
It opened their hearts and they realized that the Holy
Spirit had not only touched their daughters’ lives, but could make
a difference in their lives as well.
PROCEDURE
Whenever we help someone seek the Baptism, the first step is to
make sure things are right between the person and God. I always
pray with them, asking God to reveal anything in their hearts that
would hinder them from receiving the Holy Spirit.
When my dad was about nineteen years old, he wanted
the Holy Spirit so badly. He prayed fervently for the Baptism.
Every time he sat down and prayed, God would reveal to him
things he had done. He was a rebellious teenager and would steal
from people. As he prayed, whatever he had stolen would come
to his mind. My dad said he knew the Holy Spirit was not going
to fill him until he made things right. He did so and came back
and told God, “My heart is ready and willing to be filled, and my
life is clean.” He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Now, I know God does not expect someone to have every
sin in his or her life perfectly worked out. There are some things
God cleans up later; we don’t have to be perfect. But if there are
issues the Holy Spirit directs our minds to, we need to deal with
them. Pray a prayer with anyone seeking the Baptism asking God
to reveal anything in their heart and life that needs to be cleansed.
The second step is to explain to them that God’s gift is
just like a gift we give to our children at Christmas or on their
birthday. Their name is written on that gift, and it’s their gift if

they will just receive it. They don’t have to beg for it; they don’t
have to ask for it again and again. They simply have to receive it.
This happens as they invite Jesus to fill them, and start praising
and thanking Him for what He’s done in their lives.
Thirdly, they have to take a step of faith by releasing their
tongue to God as they praise. I often say, “You will get to the point
where your tongue feels like it’s too big for your mouth, and you
want to say something. That is the Holy Spirit trying to say,
‘Throw away your English and begin to speak in your heavenly
language.’” That is when they need to take a step of faith and
speak it—even if it feels funny to them.
Many times, they’ll have stammering lips. I encourage
them, “That is the Holy Spirit on you. Just step out by faith and
begin to speak those words God has given you.” For many years,
I had stammering lips. No one ever told me I could use my tongue
and lips to speak a beautiful language, or that it would become
more beautiful as I spoke it.
Sometimes people just speak a few words and they stop.
I encourage them to continue in prayer and use their heavenly,
holy language. If there are people around them, I’ll say, “Let’s all
speak in our heavenly language together.” As the person uses his
or her new, beautiful language, they don’t feel like they’re singled
out. It gives them assurance that they have been filled.
I also tell them, “Tomorrow, when you begin to pray and
the devil comes to you and says, ‘You weren’t filled with the Holy
Spirit,’ you just begin to pray in English and pour your heart out
to God. You’ll get to the point where the Holy Spirit will open you
up so you can speak in your heavenly language.”
Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us
in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but
the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot
express.” There are times when I don’t know how to pray, but
through the Holy Spirit, I can still pray the perfect prayer.
I went through cancer about four years ago. I didn’t know
at the time if my illness would be fatal, but I just began to pray in
the Holy Spirit. I don’t know what I was saying when I prayed in
tongues, but I know I was praying in His perfect will. God then

revealed to me I was going to live and He was going to use my
sickness for His honor and glory. He was going to stretch me and
use me in ways I had never been used before. This is often what
the Holy Spirit will do for us.
DISCOURAGED SEEKERS
Sometimes I pray for people who have been seeking for many
years, and they’re already discouraged before they start to pray.
My husband says, “Honey, this one’s for you!” Just recently, a man
came who had been seeking for many years, and I prayed with
him for quite a long time before he received. I felt in my heart it
was his night, and if I let him leave without being filled, he was
going to feel like it was one more failure. Discouragement can
really build up, so I kept encouraging him and praying with him
until he was filled that night.
We have to keep the faith. Sometimes we almost have to
have faith on behalf of the person we’re praying with. He or she
may say, “Well, maybe it’s not for me.” I reply, “No, we read in the
Bible that this is for you, and your children, and your children’s
children. Why would God single you out and say ‘It’s not for
you’?” The devil really takes advantage of discouragement.
CONCLUSION
When my husband was district superintendent, a young man
came to him and said, “I’m a new Christian, but I need to receive
the Holy Spirit. I keep praying and I can’t. I just can’t receive it.”
So my husband called to me and said, “Pray with this man. He
needs the Holy Spirit.” I told the man, “Just open your heart; I
want you to receive it as a gift.” I held his hands as a great, beau-
tiful, heavenly language began to flow; it was instantaneous. He
was shouting it! The whole place heard it! It was his appointed
time, and I just happened to be there to encourage him.
Whether a church has classes on the baptism in the Holy

Spirit or a special Sunday night emphasis, we need to give oppor-
tunity for our people to be filled. The greatest way for them to
want to be filled is by creating a hunger. Whenever we emphasize
the Holy Spirit, people are filled. On one occasion, about fifty
people were filled in a service. Bring someone in who can teach
about the Holy Spirit, or take several Sunday nights and teach
about it. But allow time for people to pray—and partner with
them—that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Remember that we are just one generation away from not
being a Spirit-filled church.

CHAPTER FIVE
FOSTERING A
SETTING FOR PEOPLE
TO RECEIVE
By Scott Erickson
There is work to be done to reach as many people

with the gospel as possible before they go into eter-
nity. This work can only be done effectively in the power of the
Holy Spirit. I pray that as we consider these very important mat-
ters we would see the urgency of everyone in our churches
experiencing the Baptism. Ministering the baptism in the Holy
Spirit effectively involves several things including the right atti-
tude, an appropriate atmosphere, and the anticipation that people
will receive the gift. All these things can help create an environ-
ment that welcomes the work of the Holy Spirit.
ATTITUDE
The attitude of the person God will use to minister the Baptism is
certainly one of enthusiasm—a person who is confident in the
Word and in God’s willingness to do what He promised. I am
drawn to John 7:37,38 where Jesus teaches about the overflow
and the fullness of the Spirit in a person’s life.
If we think about that word “enthusiasm,” we see it is built
on the Greek, en theos, which means “in God.” The mark of the
truly enthused person is that God is in him or her. The picture in
John 7 is of a person being so full of God that his or her behavior

is dominated by the Spirit. Such a person inspires others to receive
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The enthusiastic, Spirit-filled
Christian is dynamically alive and has something other people look
at and say, “I really think that what you have is what I want.”
Jesus spoke of these streams of living water during the
Feast of the Tabernacles. Jesus called to everyone to come and enjoy
the Spirit’s fullness. He didn’t speak of a little trickle of water. He
said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever
believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will
flow from within him.” (John 7:37,38). That deepened, fulfilling
lifestyle comes from a life of the Spirit’s overflow.
The attitude of a person who is ministering—whether it
is a Sunday School teacher, pastor, or altar worker—must be
assured God has a river of blessing He wants to pour out on peo-
ple. We must be fully persuaded in our attitude to know that God
is in the business of filling people with His Spirit and that the
Spirit wants to abide in people in power. We must be persuaded
that what the Bible says is true. There is no room for a vacillating
presentation of Pentecost. We must be affirming, we must under-
stand what to say and how to say it, we must be fully confident in
what the Word says and what Jesus said about the Spirit.
Our attitude should be one of enthusiasm and also obe-
dience. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is Christ’s command to us,
not a suggestion or an option. In Acts 1:4, Jesus “commanded
them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had
promised” (NASB). We need to focus on the word “commanded,”
and realize it is very strong language. We must be fully persuaded
that what God said in His Word is exactly what He meant.
We must also remember the role faith plays for the
believer who is seeking the Baptism, and the importance of hav-
ing an attitude of faith. If someone comes to the altar to receive
the Holy Spirit while harboring doubt, Satan can use that doubt
to prevent them from receiving the Holy Spirit. The believer must
reject doubts and claim what God has promised. A person who
yields to the Spirit will see God do great things in his or her life.
I was ministering to pastors in another country who were
conducting Spirit-filled meetings but had not yet received the

Holy Spirit themselves. I asked them, “Would you just receive this
gift by faith?” They said, “Well, we’ve been seeking this for a long
time. We don’t know why the Lord hasn’t filled us.” I explained to
them that the gift has already been given, and it’s just a matter of
receiving it by faith. We shook hands, and then I prayed for them
that they would receive the Spirit. There was no immediate sign
and nothing physically occurred at that moment. But, after five or
six years of seeking the Lord in this matter—it’s an incredible
thing—one pastor was baptized in the Spirit while he was preach-
ing in his pulpit the next day!
Another man once came to me and said, “I’ve been seeking
the Baptism for fifty-five years and I’ve been all over the country
and had all kinds of people pray for me.” He then talked to me
about his faithful tithing and about all the works he had done. The
Baptism has nothing to do with works; it has to do with faith.
“Can we just agree,” I asked, “before I pray for you, that
you’re going to receive right now, and that you’re not going to
walk away from here and say, ‘God didn’t fill me,’ but you will say,
‘Today is the day I receive’?”
“Well, that’s pretty direct,” he said.
“It certainly is,” I said.
I prayed for that man, and instantly he was speaking in
other tongues. He looked like he had swallowed a light bulb! He
was so filled with glory. To this day, although he is in his eight-
ies, he is still enjoying a day-to-day Spirit-filled life. Attitude
makes a difference.
ATMOSPHERE
In order for the Lord to respond and baptize people in His Spirit,
we must create an atmosphere that is honoring to Him. The
atmosphere God will honor is, first of all, an atmosphere of wor-
ship. Whether it is established at an altar, in someone’s home, or
in a Sunday School class, this atmosphere is one of complete and
total wonder for the greatness of God; the Baptizer who is present
needs to be honored. The minister needs to exercise whatever

control is needed to make that atmosphere honorable to the Lord
so the Spirit is not grieved in any way.
Many times we create an atmosphere of uncertainty.
People don’t know what to expect. An atmosphere conducive to
the Baptism is one where a person understands what’s going to
happen and realizes what the Lord wants to do. I try to explain to
people that they must understand Scripture and be properly pre-
pared for what’s about to happen.
I often point people to Acts 2:37,38: “When the people
heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the
other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent
and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.’” From this passage we understand the Baptism is a
separate experience from salvation. We know that to be prepared
to receive the Baptism we must first be born again.
I have prayed with people at the altar to receive salvation,
and sometimes I have seen them filled with the Holy Spirit only
seconds later—almost immediately upon their confession of
Christ as Savior. As we think about creating the right atmosphere,
we need to help people understand that they are not baptized
with the Holy Spirit when they are born again. It doesn’t happen
in the same instant; salvation precedes the Baptism.
Let’s look at the believers in Scripture who had not received
the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. There are several examples:
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the
word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived,
they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because
the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been
baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14,
emphasis added).
Here we see that believers had professed faith in Jesus,

and in this case they had already been baptized in water, but they
had not yet received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Consider also Acts 19:1–3:
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior
and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them,
‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered,
‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked,
‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied.
As we set the atmosphere for people to be spiritually

ready, they must first receive Christ as Savior in order to receive
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Some may feel unworthy; some
may feel they are not ready to be the kind of person who would
have the Spirit flow in them in this way. But the atmosphere God
honors is one in which truth abounds. If you are born again, you
are ready to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Because of Jesus’ instruction to the disciples in Acts 1:4 to
wait in Jerusalem until they had received power from on high,
many people have assumed they also are required to tarry or wait.
We do not wait in the same way as Jesus’ first followers did
because the Holy Spirit has already been given.
We need to consider the immediacy of how the Spirit fell
in the New Testament. In Acts 8, for instance, the Bible says the
Samaritans were immediately filled. In Acts 10:44, it says, “While
Peter was still speaking,” the Spirit fell on all those in Cornelius’s
house “who heard the message” (emphasis added). Acts 19:1–6
gives clear reference to the Spirit baptizing believers “when Paul
placed his hands on them.” To set a correct atmosphere of expecta-
tion, we must remind people that the Spirit has already been given.
We must also remind people that the Holy Spirit baptism
is a gift and is received by faith. I tell people they should expect
to receive as hands are laid upon them. This creates a biblical
expectancy. In Acts 8:17 and 19:6, believers received the Spirit as
hands were laid upon them. Everything we receive from God is a
gift we receive by faith. Without faith, we shouldn’t think we’re
going to get anything from God (James 1:6,7). So we must create
an atmosphere where people understand they must have faith
that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is vitally important to remind people you’re praying
with that they are going to do the speaking. It may sound obvi-
ous, but in the Bible it was people who did the speaking in
tongues when they received the Holy Spirit. They immediately
spoke in other tongues, and we need to remind ourselves that we
are going to do the talking when we receive the Baptism.
Of course, the Holy Spirit will give the utterance; we’ll
feel something in our vocal cords, our lips, and our tongue, and
may not be certain what that feeling is. But we need to remember
that Jesus does the baptizing and we do the speaking. Scripture
says that He will enable us, and we will do the speaking.
Acts 10:44 says, “While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The
circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished
that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the
Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising
God.” They heard the Gentiles praying in other tongues.
We understand the good things the Spirit wants to do, and
we need to learn how to deal with unbelief and allay the fears of the
unknown. So we want to create an atmosphere that enables believ-
ers to understand they must cooperate with the Spirit. Luke
11:11–13 gives us a clear promise: “Which of you fathers, if your
son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for
an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
I usually mention that I’ve never seen a person filled with
the Holy Spirit with their mouth closed. People need to relax, open
their mouth and give praise to the Lord, and expect they will speak
in a language they do not understand. The supernatural part is not
who is doing the talking; it’s what God is saying through us. We
need to learn to lift our voice and trust God for the guidance. This
creates an atmosphere of faith and worship, and God works in an
atmosphere where people focus their attention on Him.
As people seek the Baptism, they feel very vulnerable. If
someone is speaking one thing in one ear and someone else is
speaking something else in the other ear, or people are crowded

so closely they are in contact with those around them, it can really
make people feel on edge.
ANTICIPATION
A lot of people seeking the Baptism are not sure what God is
going to do. They may be very interested in knowing what God
has for them, but they don’t know what it is or what it looks like.
Philip’s ministry in Samaria in Acts 8 intrigues me. Philip
was preaching and good things were happening—miracles, signs,
and wonders. The church in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to take
part in Philip’s ministry. In verse 17, when Peter and John laid
their hands upon them “they received the Holy Spirit.” I think we
should pray, like Peter and John did, that people might receive the
Holy Spirit, the gift God has already offered.
We can help people anticipate the Lord’s promise by say-
ing, “When I lay hands on you, I believe you’re going to receive
the Holy Spirit.” In this way, we’re creating in people a great sense
of anticipation that what is said in God’s Word is what we’re going
to do and what is going to happen.
God honors believers who have decided they will receive
when someone lays hands on them. “When that pastor or that
leader or that Sunday School teacher lays hands on me, I am
going to receive the Holy Spirit.” We must create an atmosphere
built on the Word of God. Sometimes people feel unworthy and
want to come to their own conclusions. We need to be people
who simply say, “Lord, I know You know what my weakness is. I
ask You to help me receive right now.” We need to believe and
anticipate with people that they can receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. God’s gift of His Spirit is reserved for His children, and He
desires for us to receive the Holy Spirit.
We must also remember the role faith plays for the candi-
date who is seeking the Baptism. If someone comes to the altar to
receive the Holy Spirit while harboring doubts in their mind, or if
they’re thinking about how they were raised (perhaps in an anti-
Pentecostal environment), Satan can use that doubt to prevent

them from receiving the Holy Spirit. The believer must reject
these doubts and claim what God has promised. A person who
yields to the Spirit can know that God is going to do something
great in their life.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit wants to continue working
in every person who has received the Baptism. We should not just
emphasize that the Bible says the person who has been filled with
the Holy Spirit will speak in other tongues. I believe the Bible also
shows a new doorway for ministry that the Spirit-filled believer
will experience. We should pray in tongues every day. Praying in
the Spirit is a tremendous tool for our spiritual growth and
empowerment. Along with the Word and the name of Jesus, pray-
ing in the Spirit daily keeps a person saturated in the love of God,
keeps them refreshed, keeps their heart on fire and in tune with
the Spirit, and enables them to see great things happen for the
purposes of the Kingdom.

CHAPTER SIX
ENCOURAGEMENT IN
RECEIVING THE GIFT
By Bill Juoni
We give follow-up instructions to new converts to

help them understand what they have just experi-
enced and to help them grow in their new life in
Christ. It’s just as important for us to give follow-up instruc-
tions to those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit to help
them understand what they have just experienced and to help
them grow in what they have received and put it to use in their
lives. We also need to encourage those we have prayed for who
have not yet received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE

WHO HAVE RECEIVED
I share eight things with people after they have received the bap-
tism in the Holy Spirit. These points will help them to continue
living in the newfound power of the Baptism and make the most
of what they have received.
1. Speaking in tongues is the sign their experience is real. Assure
them if they were speaking in other tongues, they have received the
baptism in the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter what it sounded like or
what they felt or what they did not feel. If they were speaking in
other tongues, they have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

2. They should not allow anyone to talk them out of what they
have received. Chances are, before the day is done the devil’s going
to whisper in their mind that they haven’t received, or that they
made all of it up, or that it wasn’t God—it was their own words.
They can’t let the devil, or anyone else, talk them out of what they
have experienced in God.
Christian friends who may not believe in the baptism in
the Holy Spirit may try to talk them out of what they have expe-
rienced. There are many church fellowships that do not teach a
Pentecostal experience for today. Believers themselves may have
doubts about their experience, perhaps thinking it wasn’t from
God but rather their own imagination. No one should talk them
out of what they’ve experienced in God—whether it’s the devil,
their friends, or even themselves.
When I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I was
walking across a field on the campus of Northern Michigan
University in Marquette. It was in the middle of the night, and
nobody was around to share the experience with me. I went for
weeks afterward doubting what I had experienced. It wasn’t until
a believer pulled me aside and encouraged me that I realized I
really had received the Baptism.
3. Emotions must not determine the reality of their experi-
ence. The evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to
Scripture, is that the believer spoke in other tongues. The evi-
dence is not what he or she felt or the emotions that were or were
not displayed.
People’s feelings vary dramatically. Some people who are
baptized in the Holy Spirit—in addition to speaking in other
tongues—will have tears coming down their cheeks. Others may
shake. Others may feel like they’ve been hit with a bolt of light-
ning. Others may describe a quiet, peaceful feeling—no tears, no
shaking, no falling down—nothing besides speaking in tongues
appeared to happen. However, the reality of what people experi-
ence is not based on what they do or do not feel. The evidence is
speaking in other tongues.
4. After receiving the Baptism, believers should pray in the
Holy Spirit every day; they should put to use what they have received.

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul says, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions
with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert
and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Encourage believ-
ers who have received the Baptism to pray in the Holy Spirit
every day. Paul, writing in Romans 8:26, said, “In the same way,
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we
ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with
groans that words cannot express.” Believers who take time every
day to pray in the Spirit will receive help from Him in their com-
munion with God.
5. The number of words used, or even how one’s prayer lan-
guage sounds, is unimportant. The key is to put our prayer language
to use and to take time to pray in the Spirit every day.
I was with a pastor some time ago in Minnesota. “You
know,” he said, “when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, I think I
spoke one word.”
What’s wrong if someone is praying with one word?
Perhaps the Spirit is helping that person say “thank you” to God
in another language or “help” to God in another language. As
believers use what they have been given, it will grow and develop
in their lives.
6. The Baptism is not an end in itself, or something to check off
on a spiritual “to do” list. Some may feel, “Well, now I’ve received
this, and I can just kind of push it aside and forget about it.”
The Baptism is just the beginning of a new dimension in
the life of a believer. He or she now has new power in life—a new
way to pray, a new way to worship God, a new way to be strength-
ened, and a whole host of other benefits. This isn’t the end of
something; it’s just the beginning.
7. The Baptism’s power is to be put to use in all of life.
Baptized believers should step out in faith as opportunities arise
and the Holy Spirit opens doors and nudges them.
I compare the baptism in the Holy Spirit to the passing
gear on a car. As you’re driving along, you don’t even really know
that the passing gear is there. Then, as you go to pass another car,
you press on the gas pedal and that passing gear kicks in when
there’s a need and when there’s a purpose for it.

As we step out in faith—whether to tell someone about
Jesus, pray for someone, or be used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit—
the empowerment from the baptism in the Holy Spirit will also kick
in, just like the passing gear. As we put this new power to use and
step out in faith as opportunities arise, we’ll find this power will
enable us to minister in whatever way God wants us to minister.
8. It’s normal to have questions about the Baptism experience.
When questions arise, the believer should feel free to express
them. Encourage believers not to harbor questions. It’s normal to
have questions and it’s best to ask them of a well-respected, Spirit-
filled believer.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE

WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED
It is also a reality when we pray with people to receive the bap-
tism in the Holy Spirit that not all will receive immediately. In
fact, the only person who has never experienced praying for
someone who did not receive the Baptism immediately is proba-
bly the person who has never prayed for anyone to receive the
Baptism in the first place.
I heard an old-time Pentecostal preacher say there are two
reasons people don’t receive the Baptism—it’s either a lack of faith
(they don’t believe they can receive) or it’s a lack of submission
(they do not yield their mouth, tongue, mind and heart, thus not
allowing God to do in them what He is waiting to do if they
would yield themselves).
I share four things with individuals who have not
received the Baptism in the hope it will encourage them.
1. God loves them. We all need the assurance that God loves
us, especially when we have asked Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit
baptism and have not yet received it. Just because someone has not
yet received, it does not mean God loves him or her any less.
2. God wants to baptize them in the Holy Spirit. God wants
to baptize them in the Holy Spirit even more than they want to
receive the Baptism.

3. They must keep seeking. The believer must not quit or
give up in despair. He or she must keep seeking and desiring to
be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
4. They must stay open to the baptism in the Holy Spirit as
God’s promise. It’s easy to allow discouragement to shut down one’s
faith in God’s unchanging promise. If the person remains hungry,
at some point God’s faithfulness will be expressed in the Baptism.
I often share stories of when I prayed for people to be
baptized in the Holy Spirit and they didn’t receive at the altar, but
they stayed open and hungry and received later. One girl went
back to pick up her Bible and started speaking in other tongues
at the back pew. There have been people who have been baptized
in the Holy Spirit on their way home from church, some at their
bedside, some in the shower the next morning.
As people stay open and hungry, the promise from
Scripture is that they will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. If some-
one didn’t receive when you prayed for them, it’s not the end of
the world. It does not mean God doesn’t want to fill them. God
will baptize them in the Holy Spirit. They just need to stay open,
stay hungry, and keep seeking until He does.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS

I want to encourage pastors to keep on ministering on the bap-
tism in the Holy Spirit, and keep on giving opportunities for
people to receive. As you consistently give opportunities, people
will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Having been a pastor for twenty years, I know where
you’re coming from. Sometimes your voice is too familiar to the
people. Have someone come in from the outside, a new voice say-
ing it in a little different way. People respond who may normally
not have responded.
While our kids were growing up, there were times I would
say something to them and it was like water off a duck’s back.
Three weeks later, they’d come bursting through the door talking
about something a neighbor had said. It was basically the same

thing I had said to them, just a little different wording and from a
different voice. Yet my kids talked about it like it was the greatest
revelation they had ever heard! Sometimes, I think a pastor can
find himself dealing with that same kind of situation and mindset.
I also encourage you to incorporate teaching on the
Baptism into the teaching of the church. Start with your new
believers class. That is an excellent place to introduce people to
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. When sharing the fundamental
beliefs of the church, include a segment dealing with the Baptism.
This holds true for membership classes and Bible studies.
Preach the Baptism as well. People aren’t going to be able
to receive the Baptism unless you’re preaching on it and giving
them opportunities to receive. I say that because I was asking the
Lord one day why people were not being baptized in the Holy
Spirit in our church. The Lord basically said, “Well, you’re not
giving them a chance.” That’s when I realized I needed to preach
on the Baptism and give people a chance to receive.
In our first pastorate, we had a time after worship when
people could come forward for prayer, regardless of their need.
Week after week, we began to notice that people were coming for-
ward because they wanted to receive the baptism in the Holy
Spirit. I wasn’t even preaching on it, but they were coming for-
ward to receive the Baptism during that altar call.
I finally asked, “Why are all these people coming for-
ward?” I found out one of the Sunday School classes was teaching
on the Baptism. People were getting the teaching in their Sunday
School class and coming forward to receive the Baptism during an
altar time in main service, even when I wasn’t preaching on it.
They were hungry to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
A little lightbulb went off in my head. Hey, if we teach on
this at all, even if we’re not preaching on it at that time, people are
going to come forward wanting to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Be intentional. Don’t get discouraged. Keep standing with
those people in your congregation who have yet to experience the
Baptism. God will honor His promise.

CHAPTER SEVEN
THE HOLY SPIRIT

BAPTISM AND
CHILDREN
By Dick Gruber
For more than thirty years I have been involved in

children’s church, crusades, and children’s camps.
I have witnessed to, led, and prayed for hundreds of children as
they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I have seen this gift
distributed freely among boys and girls as young as four and five
years old. I have stood by as children prayed for other children
and spoke words of wisdom to help their friends understand and
receive this unique gift. In this writing, I will share with you
some practical insights on leading children into the baptism in
the Holy Spirit.
I interviewed more than one hundred children a few years
back while speaking at a statewide children’s camp. Not one of
them could tell me about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Only two
had ever heard of speaking with other tongues. It was as if I had
been transported to the setting of Acts 19 and was standing along-
side Paul as the Ephesian believers told him, “We have not even
heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). By Thursday night of
that week most of those children could not only explain what the
baptism in the Holy Spirit was, but they had also experienced this
wonderful gift.
So how did that happen? What approach did I take at
those altars? When do you know it is the right time to pray? Let’s
look at these and other questions so we can better understand how

to lead children in this important aspect of Christian living.
LET THE CHILDREN LEARN

We want our children to experience the best quality teaching when
it comes to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. We do
what we can to insure that our school systems provide well-
trained, pleasant teachers who make learning a joy for the young
ones. Then the kids come to church. Do they deserve less than the
best on Sunday mornings? Children must have competent people
of good character training them in biblical truths. Children need
solid, interesting teaching when it comes to spiritual matters. In no
other spiritual aspect is this more important than the baptism in
the Holy Spirit.
So how do you, as the children’s teacher or leader,
approach this subject? First, look to the Bible. What does it say
about this gift and about children receiving it? In Acts 1:5, Jesus
said, “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.” It is important for children to know
Jesus used the term “baptized” when referring to this second gift.
We are talking about a promise of God.
In Luke 11, when teaching on prayer, Jesus uses an illus-
tration any child can understand. “Which of you fathers, if your
son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for
an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
him!” (Luke 11:11–13). I have used this simple illustration many
times to assure children that when they ask God sincerely for this
gift He will not allow them to fake it or receive a counterfeit. I also
use this passage to encourage children to ask God for this gift in
the first place.
I usually include Acts 2:39 when talking with children
about this gift. It reads, “The promise is for you and your children
and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will
call.” Even if you choose to generalize the word “children” in this

passage, you cannot ignore the context that it would include all
believers, both young and old, throughout history.
It is important, when teaching children, to incorporate all
of the senses. While speaking the Word will have impact, causing
it to come alive using everyday objects helps clarify for children. I
have developed several teachings using everyday objects when dis-
cussing the baptism in the Holy Spirit with children. Here are two
that work well: “The Bike” and “The Kid’s Meal.”
The Bike
Place an ordinary child’s bicycle in front of the children. I
turn it upside down, standing it on the handlebars and seat. Invite
a child to come to the front of the room and assist you. I place a
bike helmet on that child and talk about the helmet of salvation.
Just as a bike rider must wear a helmet as he rides, the child must
be saved before seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is a gift
reserved for those who believe. The Ephesians of Acts 19 listened
to Paul, accepted the Word, and were baptized in water showing
their newfound commitment to Christ, and then hands were laid
on them to receive the Holy Spirit.
My child assistant is then instructed to point to the front
tire while turning the pedals and thus empowering the rear tire. I
talk about the Baptism being like a bike. A bicycle comes with two
tires, front and rear. The front tire gives the ride balance and direc-
tion. This is what a prayer language does. The back tire gives
power to move forward. Again, this is what the power of the Holy
Spirit does for the believer.
Nobody would think of trying to ride a bike that was miss-
ing a tire. Just as the bike has a front and rear tire, the baptism in
the Holy Spirit provides the believer with power and a prayer lan-
guage. Every time a child rides a bike or sees someone riding, he
can remember the blessing of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Receiving is as simple as riding a bike. At first you may use
training wheels or receive encouragement from a parent or older
sibling. When receiving the Holy Spirit, you may use the training
wheels of verbal praise by receiving encouragement from a friend
or pastor to speak out praises to God.

Once a believer has received power and a prayer lan-
guage as the Spirit baptized him, he or she should be sure to use
that gift every day. Nobody would buy a brand-new bike and
park it in the garage all year. A child with a bike will ride it every
chance he gets. He would not save it to ride one week a summer
or only on special days. A bike gives a boy or girl freedom. The
Baptism will do the same, giving a child freedom to grow into a
deeper walk with God.
The Kid’s Meal

Purchase any kid’s meal from a fast food restaurant. I bring
five children up front and allow each to hold a different part of the
kid’s meal. I take a little time to talk about each part and compare
it to an aspect of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I then remind all
of the children to remember these things when they eat a kid’s
meal. This lesson includes the following components:
• The bag or box represents the Bible, which holds all we know
about the Holy Spirit.
• The prize represents speaking in tongues. Most people go for this
prize first.
• The meat represents the power of the Holy Spirit, received when
the believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit.
• The fries are like the extra gifts, like prophecy or tongues and
interpretation.
• The fountain drink represents the joy of the Lord.
Be certain to explain fully what will happen when you

pray with the children for this gift. I have found many children to
be afraid of the unknown. They do not break through in prayer
because of a hidden fear. Sometime in my presentation about this
gift I address fears children may have.
Some of those fears expressed to me by children include
uncontrollable tongue talking, blacking out, being shaken by adult
workers, or prophetic information coming into their brain like an
explosion. One girl mentioned she was afraid of praying because
she might get slain in the Spirit and hit her head on the floor. I

encouraged her to go ahead and just lie down. That way, if God did
slay her in the Spirit, she would not hit her head, as she would
already be on the floor. She lay down and after a few moments of
prayer was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
LET THE CHILDREN COME

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder
them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”
(Matthew 19:14). Letting children come to Jesus implies a kind
invitation. For too many years, well-meaning Pentecostals have
implored, pressured, scared, or even coerced children to come to
altars to pray for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was almost as if
receiving the gift took precedence over the practical application of
the gift. Where is the fruit of the Spirit in an altar service that
would press children to receive a gift for which they are not ready?
So, if you are a children’s leader, I implore you to “let” the
children come! Do not drag, threaten, trick, push, or pull children
toward Jesus and the gifts He has for them. Do not tell scary sto-
ries that force them into a place of uncomfortable decision.
Mike introduced himself to me during the first altar serv-
ice at a camp in Humble, Texas. As other children were praying,
he approached me and said, “I don’t want to pray.” Rather than try-
ing to force the goodness of God on this eleven-year-old boy, I
replied, “Then just sit back and watch, Mike. If you have any ques-
tions, just find me and ask.”
During the second and third nights of the camp, a similar
exchange took place. Then Thursday night’s service came. Mike
came up to me with tears running down his face. He blurted out,
“I’m ready now.” Mike accepted Jesus as his Savior and was bap-
tized in the Spirit at that altar. I am sure that if I had forced the
issue earlier in the week, he would not have received.
Over the years, I have found that children want more of
God. Scripture says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm
34:8). Our task as leaders is to present Jesus in such a way chil-
dren will want to taste and see. Once they have had a taste of

genuine prayer and praise they will develop a hunger that will
last a lifetime. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift
that, once received, will give children the kind of hunger I am
talking about.
My wife, Darlene, and I have four children. There have
been times in each of their lives when we sat waiting at the dinner
table as they tried a new food. Forcing this upon them rarely
resulted in their wanting more of the mysterious substance. We
learned that the presentation of a new food alongside other dishes
they loved was a much better approach. In the same way, present-
ing a gift like the baptism in the Holy Spirit can be done in such a
way as to excite the child’s imagination and engage the child’s
desire for more of God. Forcing a child to “taste and see” this expe-
rience will reap little benefit in his or her life.
Be sure to present the baptism in the Holy Spirit and all
that comes with it in a positive light. Illustrate the message in such
a way as to water the garden of enthusiasm in their hearts. I’ve
given you a couple of ideas, but so many more exist. It is impor-
tant when presenting this lesson to illustrate it in a colorful,
simple, child-friendly manner. Use objects, stories, and music that
appeal to the child’s senses and sensibility. Involve the children in
the lesson. Do not hold an object yourself when you can employ a
child to hold it for you. Do not just tell a story but bring children
up front to act it out.
It is important you do not use scare tactics or spooky sto-
ries. Face it: some of the spiritual happenings surrounding adults
receiving this gift can sound scary when explained to a child. The
idea of suddenly speaking in an unknown tongue can be scary for
a young one. Here is how I explain tongues.“God will do nothing
scary to you. He does not come in and move your tongue uncon-
trollably. That would be scary. You praise Him in your own
language and He will give you new words through your mind and
spirit. You may hear or think a word or two. Say those words by
faith as God gives you more and more of His Spirit. The words
you say or language God gives you may not sound anything like
me or others speaking around you. That’s okay. God loves you so
much that He wants to give you a special unique prayer language

you can use when you don’t know how to pray.”
It is important to note that we want to encourage children
to seek more of God. I like to compare it to Christmas. Certainly
at Christmas you want to receive gifts from your grandparents. But
the experience is so much richer when you get to do that with
Grandpa or Grandma in the room to hug and love you. I encour-
age children not to worry about getting tongues, but instead to
enjoy spending time with Jesus. “I love those who love me, and
those who seek me find me” (Proverbs 8:17). “Come near to God
and he will come near to you” (James 4:8).
Emphasis must not be placed on “getting tongues” but on
being empowered by Jesus. Boys and girls need the power of the
Holy Spirit in order to stand for God in these last days. To seek the
gift without the Giver is to make the same mistake Simon did in
Acts 8:18, when he offered money to receive the Holy Spirit.
LET THE CHILDREN PRAY

Children are full of faith and ready to pray at any time. In both
camp and church settings, I have discovered that if we allow chil-
dren to pray and give them time to do this, they will respond by
storming the gates of heaven. One Sunday morning I opened the
altars to children wishing to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
About a dozen children responded. When I invited friends to pray
with them, more than thirty came down to help their peers. The
prayer service went on until parents were coming in the back of
the room. We invited these parents to join their children in prayer.
Many did, and God moved in a marvelous way.
Stanley Grenz wrote, “Many Christians do not pray
because they are not convinced that prayer works; they do not
understand what prayer is, how prayer functions, or for what they
should pray.”1 If this is true of the adult believers Stanley Grenz
wrote about, it is also true of children. Our task as leaders of chil-
dren is to help them experience God in real ways. We must teach
on prayer, but not stop until children have experienced what we
have taught about.

Children approach God with simple genuine faith. How
many times has a child approached you asking that you pray for a
plant, pet, or parent? The child who asks does not hesitate to
believe you will pray and God will hear you. This same basic faith
is utilized when a child prays to receive spiritual gifts from God.
Once a child is allowed to come to Him, that child will receive
from Him.
Don Crawford wrote, “We call not on a father who is pre-
occupied with his career and has little time for his children. We
call not on a father who may find someone else he loves more and
so forsake us. Nor does the father on whom we call simply cater to
our whims while we manipulate him.”2 God is always available to
listen to and answer the prayers of children.
I had a group of Royal Rangers commanders who wanted
to host a Holy Spirit night in their third-grade group. They laid out
the plan for the evening and invited me to come pray for children
at about 7:30 that evening. They taught and readied the boys and
in my absence began to pray. I arrived in the room at about 7:45
to the sound of two dozen third-grade boys on their faces before
God, praying their hardest. Several boys had received the Holy
Spirit prior to my arrival. These boys were praying for and encour-
aging friends to receive this gift.
Boys and girls will pray if we will allow it. They will wait
before God if we give them time to do so. They will receive the
good gifts of God if we encourage them.
LET THE CHILDREN ENJOY

Finally, I want to address the concept of letting children enjoy the
presence of God. Seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit should not
be painful, distressing, or scary for any child. Yet I have talked with
children and adults who sought this gift as a child who have had
tragic experiences at altars.
One man told me that every evangelist who came through
his church shook him and yelled at him and tried to somehow force
the gift into him. This man didn’t receive the Holy Spirit until he

was in his late twenties. This brings to mind the fact that if you are
a children’s leader, you are not the baptizer. Let God be God and
baptize children when they are ready and when the time is right.
There is nothing you can do to force this experience to happen. You
cannot yell loudly enough or speak a magic formula to cause this to
happen in children’s lives. Let Jesus gently draw children in.
I have met many children who, when leaving the altar
without having received, felt guilty or insignificant. One girl cried
that if she didn’t go home from camp with the gift of tongues her
mom would be upset. What happened to trusting God? How can
we as leaders feel justified in presenting a wonderful gift like the
baptism in the Holy Spirit in such a way that those who do not
receive feel like second-class believers?
I exhort you to encourage every child who prays for this
gift. I talk to children at the conclusion of or following an altar
service. I congratulate all who have prayed. I encourage those who
have received to use that prayer language every chance they get. I
encourage those who have not yet received to continue believing.
They have asked God to fill them to overflowing with His Spirit.
He is going to do this in their lives. I tell them, “Walk away from
this altar expecting that at any time the overflowing will happen
and you will speak in another tongue.”
One group of about a dozen ten- and eleven-year-old girls
came excitedly to me after an altar service in a hotel meeting room.
By their own testimony, all had prayed for most of an hour. None
had received. They chose to go back to their rooms believing God
would baptize them at any minute. When they all entered the ele-
vator with their counselor, one girl hit the button for their floor.
When her finger touched that button, everyone on that elevator
was baptized in the Spirit.
A nine-year-old boy shared with me at breakfast one day
that he was walking to the restroom in the middle of the night. As
he walked, he was singing a worship song. Soon the words he was
singing were not English.
A group of girls in Missouri held hands and prayed before
starting a volleyball game one afternoon at camp. As they prayed
for the game, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Both teams were

simultaneously baptized in the Spirit right there by the volleyball
net. They were so blessed they didn’t get around to playing.
I could go on and on with more testimonies. I think you
get my point. When we as leaders of children make this experience
all about Jesus, kids will receive and will have a great time doing
so. Relax and let God work. In camp and crusade settings, there is
a certain amount of pressure placed on leaders and preachers to
produce results. Set that pressure aside in favor of allowing chil-
dren to enjoy being in the presence of God.
One night at a camp in Minnesota, ten-year-old Jon was
gloriously filled with the Spirit. He sang and prayed in his prayer
language. He danced and jumped and ran through the altar serv-
ice for over a half an hour. All of that time Jon’s eyes were closed
and tears of joy were running off of his cheeks—he was enjoying
the presence of God. I know some leaders would have stopped
him. I’m glad we didn’t. Jon had a unique experience I have never
witnessed before or since.
Part of assisting children in enjoying the baptism in the
Holy Spirit involves instructing them concerning all of the extra
manifestations that can occur when a person receives this gift of
God. A child may cry one time while praying and laugh another.
He or she may feel nothing while speaking in tongues or they may
feel deep emotions. Boys and girls need to hear this is normal.
Some have been “slain in the Spirit” while praying. Right
next to them others are having just as valid a prayer experience
without the same response. I have witnessed children give
prophetic utterances, words of knowledge, and tongues and inter-
pretation at altars. It is exciting to be used of God! I encourage
children to seek to be used, and I tell them God will give them just
the right gift at just the right time.
CONCLUSION
Here are some bullet points to remember that will help you to bet-
ter serve children when addressing the subject of the baptism in
the Holy Spirit.

Stay away from extremes.
Teach using simple terms.
Encourage children to pray.
Ask God for direction.
Do not ignore this subject.
You can be used of God.
Stay away from extremes

Extreme approaches to spiritual happenings can be really
scary to younger children. Try not to overemphasize personal pref-
erences over scriptural imperatives. If the Bible isn’t specific
concerning a method or manifestation, then seek God as to how
He wants the service to progress.
Teach using simple terms

I am not proposing you dumb down this gift or any pres-
entation of it. Be a wise teacher and make certain you are using
child-friendly language and illustrations.
Encourage children to pray

I remind you that boys and girls love to pray. With a little
encouragement, extending time available, and a nice altar area,
kids can and will pray until the parents drag them away. Prayer
should be encouraged as an everyday habit.
Ask God for direction

Seek God whenever you plan to present this subject. I try
not to hang my current presentation on success in the past. I seek
God anew each time I present this and I ask for His anointing to
be fresh.
Do not ignore this subject

You may be afraid of doing something wrong when teach-
ing about the Holy Spirit to children. Do not let that stop you. If
you sincerely seek God’s direction and have right motives in pre-
senting this, I believe God will come through for you. His desire is
for boys and girls everywhere to receive all He has for them.

You can be used of God
When it comes to helping children receive the baptism in
the Holy Spirit, God does not show favoritism. You may be uned-
ucated or highly educated, rich or poor, a pastor or a parishioner.
I implore you to set aside any inadequacies you may feel and trust
God. He is the Baptizer. God has always been blessing people. He
will continue to do so. You can be God’s instrument of blessing in
the lives of the children you serve. Let God bless the children
through you as you present the baptism in the Holy Spirit to His
beloved little ones.
1. Stanley Grenz, Prayer: The Cry For The Kingdom

(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1988), 47.
2. Dan Crawford, The Prayer Shaped Disciple (Peabody,
MA: Hendrickson, 1999), 5.

CHAPTER EIGHT
COMMUNICATING THE
CHARACTER OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT TO KIDS
By Jim Gerhold
When we talk to kids, it’s important to have good,

solid communication on who the Holy Spirit is. Our
approach should be short and simple—simplistic in our method-
ology and simplistic in our concepts so that it’s easy to understand
and grasp. We should stay away from terminology that would
raise any kind of question marks. If we use terms and illustrations
that kids can easily grasp, it will be easier for us to lead them.
It’s important that kids understand the Holy Spirit is the
Spirit of God. The Trinity can be difficult to explain, even to
adults. Matthew 28:19 commands us to “go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The three Persons in the Godhead
work together as one for the benefit of all. But the main truth is
that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit is part of our Christian living; He’s part of
our continuing growth. He’s an overcoming power, a faith builder,
He’s our guide, our “point person”—in the military this means
“the lead person,” or “the person watching out for danger.” He’s a
teacher and tutor. He’s a comforter. He’s the One who brings reas-
surance and calmness to our life.
These things need to be communicated well to our kids,
and always in simple ways they can understand.

EXPLAINING THE BAPTISM IN
THE HOLY SPIRIT TO KIDS
To illustrate the promise of the baptism in the Spirit, I like to write
a check, scan it, and print it out much larger. I talk about how a
check is made out to a specific person but has no value unless it’s
cashed. In Luke 24:49, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will be
given as promised, and He told the disciples to go and stay in the
city of Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit filled them with power. So
it is a promise. I like to define the word “promise” as a guarantee,
pledge, or covenant. “I’ve given you my word and this is what I’m
going to do.”
The Baptism is a gift, so I define the gift. God wants the
very best for us, so He’s given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to
enhance our spiritual lives.
Then, just for fun, I present the Top 10 facts of God’s gift-
giving process:
10. God loves to give gifts.

9. Because God cares, He gives the best, kind of like
Hallmark.
8. God wants everything in our lives to be better, so He
gives us things that will enhance our lives.
7. All gifts given by God are heavenly, wonderful things
we’ll love and enjoy.
6. God does not give bogus gifts, only things that are
useful, practical, and fun.
5. We need God’s gifts in our lives.
4. A gift from God is free.
3. A gift from God is supposed to be used every day of
our lives.
2. Once God gives a gift, He’s not going to take it back.
1. God gives us all these gifts because He loves us and
really cares for us and He wants the very best for us.

AVOIDING INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
We can hinder kids by some of the things we do. We can bring
confusion and division and give children a wrong concept of what
God really wants. The Holy Spirit is willing to fill kids; we are
there merely to be His assistants and to guide a child through any
confusion or fears he or she may have. Therefore, we have to be
careful of what we do and say because we can negatively influence
children for the rest of their lives.
We need to be careful not to do anything that will embar-
rass a child or make him or her feel awkward. When we pray with
kids around the altars, we take on a heavy responsibility. If chil-
dren are not filled with the Holy Spirit and have a bitter or bad
experience, they may not come back to the altar the next time. And
many times these things can carry over to adulthood. Some adults
who are not Spirit-filled today had negative or manipulative child-
hood experiences and still deal with that emotional baggage.
We can relieve any kind of fears or tensions children have
by just talking to them calmly and in an easy, soft voice. Answer
any questions to the best of your ability. I always remind someone
who has a fear of the Baptism that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman.
He’s not going to make you do something that’s uncomfortable,
He’s not going to come in and embarrass you. He’s here to help
you grow in the Lord.
I want kids to have fond memories of what God has done
around the altars. When we come home from a kids’ camp, I want
them to say, “Oh, God did such a neat thing. I was slain in the Spirit,
and for an hour I was lost in the presence of God,” or “I remember
how He filled me, and it was so wonderful,” or “He healed me.” I
want kids to come back with great memories of the altars at camps.
And I want kids on Sunday morning to know that I’m not going to
do anything that’s going to make them feel awkward and they’re not
going to have to do anything crazy or outlandish. I want them to
have a good, healthy understanding and experience.
As pastors and leaders, we are the gateway. Children will
either accept or reject the Baptism based largely on what we

communicate, so we have to be very careful. Treat each child as
an individual; pray for him or her and speak with great sensitivity.
CORRECTING MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
A lot of kids have misconceptions about the Holy Spirit. For
example, a young man in a wheelchair gave his heart to God at
camp. The next night he just sat in the back during the altar time.
I asked him, “Would you like to have more from God and
be filled with the Spirit?”
He said, “God’s not going to fill me, because I’m handi-
capped. I have a defect.”
He had drawn a very wrong conclusion. His handicap had
caused him to be rejected by others. So I spent about twenty min-
utes with him, explaining that his handicap is only a physical thing.
“You can be filled with the Holy Spirit easily,” I assured
him. “A wheelchair doesn’t affect that.”
So I wheeled him to the altar, and some counselors gath-
ered around him and prayed. About an hour later he received the
Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we can forget those who haven’t responded. It
can be tragic not to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We need to
reassure kids that God never rejects anyone; there is no favoritism
with Him. God loves us all the same.
Another misconception is that the Baptism is the final
stop and that kids have “arrived” spiritually when they speak in
tongues. Our spiritual life is supposed to continue to grow, and
the Holy Spirit helps us to do that. Once we’re filled, it’s another
step, another level, another dimension that is intended to con-
tinue developing.
A third misconception arises when kids don’t want to be
filled with the Holy Spirit because they’ve heard something nega-
tive or they were in a church where they’ve had some teaching
against the Holy Spirit. You have to patiently open the Scriptures
and share with them that the Holy Spirit is part of the package of

living for God. God has a plan for their lives, and the Holy Spirit
is part of that plan. The Baptism is the next step.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR

PRODUCTIVE ALTAR TIME
As leaders, our attitude is probably 90 percent of the battle when
it comes to leading kids into the Baptism. Because we are agents
who can help people to the next level, we need to create an expec-
tation of what God can do in their lives. We must be positive role
models for them. If they see something positive and exciting in
us, then that creates a hunger and desire for more of God. But if
they see a nonchalant attitude in our approach, then why should
they want to ever receive the Holy Spirit?
If the child is apprehensive, I will pray in front of that
child in English and then I’ll also begin to pray in the Spirit. This
helps to break the ice so children can see that praying in the Spirit
is part of my prayer life. I’ll gently place my hand on their shoul-
der, being careful not to push too hard or invade their space or
make them feel awkward. I’ll give the child some simple direction
when they need it—some do, some don’t.
If children are very distracted, it doesn’t mean they won’t
receive. I’ll approach them and say, “Hey, pray with me for a
minute.” Sometimes I’ll ask, “Do you really want the Holy Spirit
tonight?” And if they say yes, I’ll continue, “Okay, let’s refocus.
You’re being distracted by some of your buddies, or maybe you’re
just watching what is going on around you—so let’s refocus.”
Sometimes I’ll encourage them to close their eyes and begin to
worship God. This is common with kids: they were worshipping
a few moments ago, and then they began to look around and their
thoughts turned to the things around them. So I try to refocus
them on worshipping and seeking.
Some kids respond to an altar call and are immediately
filled with the Spirit. Other kids seem like they’re struggling or
frustrated. When a kid is struggling, I’ll ask questions that are no-
brainers to reinforce the positive.

“You know God really loves you, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You know God wants to give you the very best, right?”
“Right.”
“You know the Holy Spirit is here tonight, right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Now, do you have any fears or concerns?”
I try to find out what the apprehension is. Kids may give
you one of the classic answers like, “I’m not good enough,” or “I
don’t know if I’m really ready for it.” Work them through what-
ever the issue may be. “So, how do you know that you’re not
ready for it?” I try to address the specific fear or apprehension that
is causing them not to receive the Holy Spirit.
INSTRUCTING KIDS IN
RECEIVING THE BAPTISM
Once you educate kids, it’s time to put into practice what’s been
learned. After I’ve given kids all this information in terms that
allow them to comprehend what the Baptism is all about, it’s time
for them to receive. When it comes to actually receiving, it’s not
my job to fill them; that’s God’s job. It is my job to help facilitate
and encourage their baptism in the Spirit without gimmicks or
manipulation.
The main instruction is to tell kids to focus on the Lord.
“Start putting your mind on God. If you want to close your eyes
and forget what’s around you, then do that. Think of something
God has done for you and thank Him for it.”
As kids begin to thank the Lord for what He’s done in
their lives, they are opening the door to receive from God. I often
model that for them as I begin to thank God for things. I’ll tell the
children, “Just keep speaking out praise and worship, using your
mouth and your tongue.” Nine times out of ten, they’ll be filled
with the Spirit right then. Sometimes it is just that easy because
kids are so open.
Kids who are more open to the work of the Spirit can

help other kids. A couple of years ago in a Royal Rangers awards
ceremony, two or three boys came forward to pray for the
Baptism. One boy received within seconds. The boy next to him
was struggling. After a few minutes of working with him, I real-
ized I wasn’t getting through to him. That’s when I looked over at
the first boy who was still speaking in tongues and praising God.
So I had the two face each other and asked the first boy to pray
for the second. I just stepped back. Within minutes, the second
child just exploded in praise to God, and before long he was
speaking in tongues.
I try to encourage children to use their voice and lips and
begin to speak out loud in praise to God. That way, when the
Holy Spirit comes on them it’s just one more step. All of a sudden,
they’re going from English to a heavenly language.
FOUR SIMPLE OBJECT LESSONS

It’s a tried-and-true principle in ministry—familiar, simple illus-
trations can illuminate the unfamiliar. Jesus did this with His
parables to point people toward the kingdom of God. You can use
simple object lessons to point children to the wonderful work of
the Holy Spirit in their lives. Here are a few suggestions.
The first example is an electrical plug. Hold up a small
lamp and tell the kids, “This reminds me of the power we have in
God. The Holy Spirit is a great source of power. But if we never
plug this lamp into the wall, if we never put this plug into the out-
let, we’ll never get the power. We can have the power to overcome
temptations and be a strong witness in a lost world, but we have
to get plugged in with the Holy Spirit. Just as this fixture will never
do anything unless we plug it into the power supply, our lives will
never be what they could be until we plug into God’s power.”
Another object lesson deals with building up our faith to
receive the Holy Spirit. I’ll use a three or five pound weight and
have a kid dress up in a sweat suit. He’ll pump iron while I talk
about the importance of physical strength and how we should be
building our muscles. In the same way we build our physical

bodies, we need to develop our spiritual lives. We need to be
reading the Word and praying in the Spirit to build our spiritual
muscles. Praying in the Spirit is a spiritual force the devil has a
hard time competing against, because we can overcome
temptations and obstacles through the Holy Spirit.
Another object lesson focuses on the Holy Spirit being a
guide to us. I’ll come out wearing a tourist hat and holding a road
map, acting like I’m lost. I’ll say, “Aw, man, I’m trying to get to
New York, but I can’t get there.” And I hold up my map, and say,
“Oh, I know why; I took the wrong route.” I’ll talk about how the
Holy Spirit is our guide in our walk with God and how He gives
us direction and helps us with our decisions. “I made a wrong
decision, and I ended up in Los Angeles. Now how do I get back
to New York? I get back to the road map!” The Holy Spirit does
that. He is like our sense of right or wrong, our conscience. And
when we’ve read the Scriptures, He will bring the truth back to
our memory. That’s part of His promise. That’s part of who He is.
For a fourth object lesson, I talk about a gift-wrapped
package. Special gifts express to me that I’m loved. God loves us,
so He has many, many gifts to give us. I’ll have several gifts for the
kids to see and I’ll open one each session. I’ll say, “You know
what? I could give all of these out right now, but I’m going to give
another one out next time.” That brings the expectation up. One
of the packages will represent the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In the end, whether I’m explaining the Baptism in simple
terms and with simple illustrations, or gently praying with a child
to receive the Baptism, it really comes down to how full of the
Spirit I am. As I remain Pentecostal in practice and lifestyle, I can
count on the Holy Spirit using me to point the youngest follow-
ers of Christ to Him and His many gifts.

CHAPTER NINE
COMMUNICATING THE
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY
SPIRIT TO STUDENTS
By Allen Griffin
When communicating the baptism in the Holy

Spirit with young people, you have to realize that
they are looking for a personal connection. “How is
this going to affect me?” Secondly, you must realize that students
are focused on the moment. How the Baptism affected people in
the past is important, but not as important as what the Baptism is
going to do today. “What is this going to do for me now?”
We can share the truth of the Holy Spirit without making
them totally afraid of God. They need to know He is not going to
send a “lightning bolt” from heaven, or do something they’ve seen
on TV that might not be a great example of receiving the Baptism.
We can draw students to this experience and remind them this is
a dynamic experience, a receiving of the power of God. It’s an
awakening that will bring a life change. It’s tapping into the power
of God that brings transformation—and I believe young people
are interested in that power.
PROCLAIMING THE
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Life is basically about power. Young people want power. That’s
why the Internet has come into their lives—it gives them power.

The ability to control not only the music they listen to but how
they listen to it gives them power. The earlier generation would
listen to a CD all the way through. This generation logs on to the
Internet and downloads one song they like off of an album. They
want power—the ability to make a choice and to do something
with that choice.
When we present the Holy Spirit to them, we’re giving
them the choice to receive God’s anointing, God’s power, and then
the ability to function with that power. In order to explain this
better, I often use the example of electricity—the alternating cur-
rent in the walls of our homes, offices, and schools. Before
electricity, people used oil lamps because there were no light
bulbs. There were no modern heaters, so they used fireplaces. Air
conditioning wasn’t created until 1906, so they used hand fans.
Life is better today in every aspect because of electric power. The
Holy Spirit’s role is to make mankind better, taking an average
young person and giving him or her power.
In the Old Testament, the power would come upon peo-
ple and they would do great things. Now, that power is for
everyone and it stays with us. The Holy Spirit lives with us and
communes with us. His power allows us to do the work of the
great men and women of old. Everyone can operate in the power
of the Spirit and do great things for the kingdom of God.
The number one fear in the world is not death. The num-
ber one fear in the world is not pain. The number one fear in the
world is public speaking. The number one fear in the world is
influenced, affected, and changed by God; the power of the Holy
Spirit has come to make us bold. He gives us the ability to stand
with courage, faith, and strength to do what God has called us to
do. This gift affects that fear.
MINISTERING THE
When I was sixteen, I received the Holy Spirit. When I was sev-
enteen, I believed that for some reason I was creative enough to

create this language, so for two and a half years I faked the bap-
tism in the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t until I was almost twenty years
old that the Holy Spirit finally broke through and revealed to me
that He had given me the Baptism. I learned that I couldn’t have
done it. I couldn’t make it up. I’m not that creative and I’m cer-
tainly not that smart! Then I finally believed.
One thing I’ve found that helps explain the Baptism to
young people is to share the story about how God filled you with
the Holy Spirit. Were you afraid? Were you doubtful?
Share your experience transparently with students. Some
will struggle with the same issues you struggled with and you will
open up their minds and they’ll be more ready to receive.
At this point I believe the approach needs to be instruc-
tional. I say this very specifically as an evangelist: the emotional
and exciting part should be in the message, not in the method.
We don’t want to fill them with emotion when they’re about to
receive this gift. Most students struggle to receive the baptism in
the Holy Spirit because they don’t have enough information, not
because they don’t have enough emotion. Give clear instruction
on exactly how they can receive.
These students want all the information they can get. Try
to be linear in your presentation, going from where you are now
to where you want to be. Here’s an example of how to explain the
preparation for receiving to students:
“First, you’re going to come forward. Second, I’m going to
ask you to raise your hands. It’s just a physical exercise of postur-
ing yourself before God, of humility, of reception. Then, I’m going
to come down, and I’m going to lay my hand on your head, or
leaders are going to lay their hands on your head. No lightning
bolts are going to come from heaven, but we’re going to ask God
for His Holy Spirit. We have examples in the Bible that through the
laying on of hands this gift was given, so we want to pray that way.”
Tell them everything you’re going to do so when they
come forward and begin to pray they aren’t surprised. They need
to know what’s going on. Pray for them corporately first, before
praying for individuals. Many students are ready to receive during
praise and worship, even before you pray for them individually.

You should also be very aware of young people who need
personal time with the Lord or personal attention in prayer. Don’t
just roam around in a spiritual haze. Go to each student individ-
ually. Lay hands on him or her. Pay attention to whom you’re
praying with.
If the student is not praying at that moment, look him or
her in the eye and offer some basic guidance. Here is a sample
conversation:
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“My name is Barbara.”
“All right, Barbara. My name is Allen.”
This breaks the ice, especially if the student is nervous.
“Okay, Barbara. I’m going to pray for you right now, that
you’ll receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Are you ready to
receive it? Do you have any questions?”
Take your time; don’t be in a hurry. When she says, “Yes,
I’m ready; I don’t really have any questions,” then continue.
“Okay, Barbara. In a moment, I want you to raise your
hands, and I’m going to pray. What I want you to do is to listen to
God. If you want to worship and listen, that’s fine. If you want to
pray and listen, then go ahead and pray and listen. The Lord’s going
to speak to you. The Holy Spirit will give you words to speak and
you need to speak them. I don’t know what kind of language it’s
going to be, Barbara, but whatever you hear from God, speak it, and
don’t stop. Are you ready? Okay. All right, raise your hands.”
Many times, students will say to you, “I can’t hear God.
What does He sound like? How does God speak?”
The best way I have found to explain it is:
“When the Spirit of God speaks to me personally, it’s like
I can feel it and hear it at the same time. It’s almost like your dad
is talking to you, and you put your head on his chest when he’s
talking. You can hear what he’s saying and feel what he’s saying.
It’s very similar to that.
“God speaks to us, and He’s able to work through all of our
senses, not just one. Sometimes you’ll feel an urgency of the Spirit.
I believe you’re going to hear from God. Whether or not your emo-
tions are involved doesn’t matter, but you will hear from God.

“He speaks to you as if you were going to say something,
and a thought comes to your mind of what you’re going to say.
You’re probably not going to hear God announce, ‘Attention, this
is God, and I’ve got something to say.’ What you’re going to
receive is a God-inspired thought—a good thought—that you’re
able to speak because you received it from God directly.”
I have seen so many students receive the Baptism this way.
They’re ready and prepared, they’ve been instructed—so they’re
not surprised. Through teaching, instruction, and agreeing in
prayer, something is triggered by faith and they receive from God.
CHALLENGES TO THE
What happens if no one in your group is filled? I was a youth pas-
tor for years in Miami, and there was a night where I decided it was
time to lead our students into the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I
preached the best I could, then called students to the altar and had
them raise their hands as I started to pray over them. Out of all of
my students, not one was filled with the Holy Spirit. There were
between 150 and 200 students and leaders in the room. How do
you deal with a service where nobody gets filled?
When no one is filled, don’t blame it on your group by
saying, “They’re not spiritual.” You need to look at the makeup of
your group and discover what their learning and communication
styles are, along with what stage of faith they are in. Church kids
who have been disappointed many times by speakers, or disap-
pointed many times at altars require extra sensitivity. When we
look at the experiences of our students, we need to make sure we
fill the need in their life. Ask them questions about what they
know about the Spirit. Teach by using what you know about
them; it may help overcome some of the challenges.
Within six months, I had dealt with my youth group’s
issues and I had fixed my psyche from all the abuse I’d given
myself for what I considered a failure—which really was just a lack
of training. My students began to be filled, and I had what many

would consider a very spiritual, Holy Spirit-filled youth ministry.
Please understand, if they don’t want to receive, they won’t receive,
no matter how hard you pray, no matter how hard you work.
Another challenge is students who have wired their
mouth shut mentally. There are some students who won’t speak
out when you pray for them; they won’t even open their mouths.
Sometimes they’re waiting for God to move their mouth for them.
Sometimes they’re just quiet people by nature. Again, you need to
look at what you know about the student. If you know that
they’re more quiet, then just encourage them that the Spirit’s not
going to force them. The Spirit will speak into their life, and they
have to choose to respond.
If students refuse to open their mouth and speak, some-
times I’ll even say, “Hey, you know what? You don’t have to even
speak what you hear loud enough for me to hear, but you need to
speak it loud enough so that you know you’re saying it.” Don’t
force them to raise their voices, or to do exactly what you do.
How long should students wait at the altar? As long as
they possibly can! That means as long as students want to wait
and as long as parents are willing to wait. If you feel some stu-
dents really need to leave, have your leaders go to them
individually and ask if they feel like they need to go. If they say
yes, then have a leader walk them out and then come back in. If
people are still pursuing the Baptism, don’t make a general dis-
missal. Let students pursue God as long as they want.
One of the greatest concerns I’ve had in ministry is peo-
ple who have twenty minutes of altar time and two hours of
games. If we’re going to have an encounter with God, we must be
willing to sacrifice some time. Time with God is love, and we
must give God as much of our love as we can. That’s our time. It’s
the most valuable commodity we have. We should tarry as long
as students want to, as long as they’ll wait, as long as they can.
Another challenge is often the different types of responses
that may take place. Remember that a young person’s personality
is part of the process of receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I
love this about God: He created the personality of every person
who is receiving. And if God created our personalities, God is not

going to give us the power of the Holy Spirit to remove our own
personality but to enhance it. If a student is a quieter person, more
of a solitary type, God is not going to turn him or her into a rav-
ing, roving, running, jumping, crazy person. If a student is more
outgoing and receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit, he or she is
probably not going to become a quiet person. Students keep their
own personality, but now with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Also, don’t be a distraction. You’re a coach. Encourage
them, but do not force them to do anything outside of their char-
acter. Pray that they hear from God. If they dance, sway, rock,
shake, or cry, that’s fine. But don’t instigate any action, or it will
be a distraction. There are times when I will hold back my per-
sonality and my enthusiasm so I can keep myself from distracting
the person who’s pursuing the presence of God.
Many leaders want students to look a certain way. Don’t
think that if your group is not responding the way you’re used to
that they’re not filled with the Spirit. Perhaps you can say, “You
know what? However you respond is great, as long as you
respond.” Encourage them that whatever they say, whatever
they’ve heard from God and responded to is okay, and that you’re
excited for them.
So, what is life like after the power of the Holy Spirit?
How will it affect young people today?
LIVING THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

After students have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, many
times we stop and say, “Man, you received the baptism in the Holy
Spirit. That’s great, you’re done.” But we shouldn’t want to stop
there. God doesn’t want believers to stop there either. He wants
us to continue to be filled.
We need to let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does
through us as leaders, and let the students see it. Don’t hesitate to
pray for miracles as a leader. Pray and believe that powerful things
are going to happen, then step out and allow the Holy Spirit to flow
through you in the service. Pray for the word of knowledge to flow;

pray for prophecy to flow in the lives of young people.
We don’t want to send our young people out to fail. We
don’t want them to stumble through the gifts of the Spirit. We
want to challenge them to operate in spiritual gifts in our services
so that when the time comes and they’re in a secular scenario,
they can look at someone and say, “This is what God has shared
with me for you.” They can know they heard from God because
the gifts of the Spirit are practiced in their youth service.
After I received the Baptism, I began using it in witnessing.
As I’d go out and witness, God would begin to speak to me and
reveal things to me I couldn’t have known apart from the Spirit.
Within two weeks after I had received the baptism in the
Holy Spirit, my pastor and I, along with several other young men,
went to a huge park in Detroit. My pastor said to us, “Okay, we’re
going to witness. We’re three hours away from home; you don’t
know any of these people here. I want to start teaching you here,
and then we’re going to go home and talk to the people we actu-
ally know.”
So we started walking around the park and praying, and
I was using my new prayer language. My youth pastor walked up
to me, grabbed me by the arm, and said, “Okay; you’re going to
walk with me across this park, and I’m going to introduce us to
the first people that we see. Then I want you to tell them what-
ever the Holy Spirit wants you to tell them. I believe God’s going
to tell you their names; God’s going to tell you information about
them they never told you, and then you’re going to be able to lead
them to God. I want you to ask Him to do that.”
As we walked across the park, I thought, Okay, God, You’re
going to have to tell me something about these people that I don’t know,
because there is no way that I can know it on my own.
Two young men were walking towards us; one was as big
as a football player and the other was a slim guy. As we got closer,
it got a little bit uncomfortable! I continued speaking in my new
language—I was speaking it faster and faster as we got closer.
Finally, my youth pastor looked at the two young men and said,
“My name is Jeff, and this is my friend Allen. And Allen has some-
thing he wants you to know.”

Right when he said that, the Holy Spirit began to speak to
me. When I opened my mouth, I couldn’t believe what I was say-
ing! There was such courage in me coming from the Spirit. I
wasn’t afraid; I was at peace. I looked at them and said, “Your
name is Mike, and your name is Steve, and you’re walking across
this park because you just ordered a pizza, and you’re heading
over to a pizza place around the corner, and God sent me here
from Grand Rapids to tell you that Jesus loves you.”
Well, both of those young men looked at me like I was
crazy. I thought maybe I was wrong, and so I started to lower my
head. The big dude, whose name was Mike, spoke up first. He
looked at me and said, “Where are you from? How do you know
our names?”
I looked up at him, and the courage of God filled me, and
I said, “I’m not even from here.” I pulled out my wallet and
showed them I was from a different school district and from a dif-
ferent city. It took a long time to explain that it was God that
shared this information with me, but it didn’t take long for them
to believe in the God we serve and to accept Jesus Christ right
there in that park.
If we allow the Spirit to use us, there’s nothing that will
be impossible. Miracles and signs and wonders “will accompany
those who believe” (Mark 16:17). Too many times we want to
stop at the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Why not pray for miracles? Have students pray for each
other. When God begins to perform miracles, students will believe
and understand that they can take part in the miraculous. When
the Spirit of God comes upon a believer, you have the power to do
miracles. The Spirit gives life, and we need to operate in that new
life. Young people will take that everywhere they go.
May all of us allow the Spirit to use this generation to do
greater things than we ever imagined we could do.

CHAPTER TEN
PREPARING A
LEADERSHIP TEAM
By Nate Ruch
No generation is more primed for a Pentecostal

relationship with God through the baptism in the
Holy Spirit than the millennial generation. Our stu-
dents in elementary, middle, and high school have grown up in
a culture that values participation as a prerequisite to belief. Kids
build relationships through text messaging, networked video
gaming, personal networking pages, cell phones, and TV shows
that allow viewers to vote and determine which contestant makes
it to the next round. If we could help today’s young generation
engage in the explosive promise of the Holy Spirit baptism, this
group is primed to live it out in ways previous generations never
dreamed of.
In my youth homiletics course at North Central
University, every student must preach a message on the baptism
in the Holy Spirit. Each semester I see students with scared looks
on their faces as we begin. I lead a discussion with these future
youth pastors and ask their reasons for being afraid.
The many different explanations offered typically point
back to a couple of common sources. The first is a lack of model
pastors preaching and leading their church in Spirit baptism—
other than possibly once a year. Future pastors who have not
heard model pastors preach on Spirit baptism are reluctant to
preach about it themselves.

The second source of fear is a frustration from negative
personal experiences. As a result of their frustration, many pas-
tors today have left the responsibility of leading students in the
Baptism to evangelists, rather than cultivate this wonderful
opportunity within their own ministry.
Pastoral and volunteer leadership teams within youth
ministries must fill the gap between students in this generation
and God’s promise of spiritual empowerment through the bap-
tism in the Holy Spirit. Every leader must be considered a
conduit who plays a decisive role in the activation of this prom-
ise. The elements that follow are critical for leaders in order to
unleash a spiritually empowered generation.
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
It may seem obvious, but nonetheless it’s true—kids figure out
what is important spiritually by what is emphasized in their
church. The pastor impacts students through the influence of the
leadership team, by preaching, and by implementing ministry
strategies that teach kids to believe. If kids aren’t participating in
the promise of the Baptism, the question is why not? If you
believe that the Baptism is an important part of your own spiri-
tuality, it is just as needed by the students you lead. So how do
you help them?
The totality of ministry strategy needs to be considered
when thinking about students being empowered through the
Baptism. Small groups, Sunday School, services, activities, cur-
riculum, devotionals, discipleship programs, worship, missions
trips—literally every point of contact with students is a potential
consideration for the strategy of releasing kids to be filled with
the Spirit. Many traditional Pentecostal church strategies only
address Spirit baptism within the context of a service. The serv-
ice is a wonderful context in which young people can receive,
but it is not the only setting.
Small groups are a worthy avenue in which to explore
the baptism in the Holy Spirit and cultivate Pentecostal ministry.

Instructions in the New Testament address churches that closely
resemble small groups both in size and in composition. Small
groups are relational environments where people can seek the
Baptism. A small group setting can also be an environment more
conducive for newly Spirit-baptized students to step out and
function in spiritual gifts. Unfortunately, this valuable ministry
setting is often not used in this way. Volunteer leader training is
essential for this to occur and will be covered later.
PREACHING/PRESENTING THE
I think the easiest part of leading students in the Baptism is
preaching about it—if you do. Telling students that God has
more opportunities for blessing available can be exhilarating
when done in faith, much like preaching on salvation. The dan-
ger here is you could be tempted to preach your feelings. As a
mentor of mine says, “Don’t just preach your feelings, preach the
Word!” The truth is that you only have the responsibility to pro-
vide the wood on the altar. God sets it on fire.
There are a few practical items to consider when present-
ing Spirit baptism in your preaching:
Preach on it more than once a year

One common complaint of my youth homiletics stu-
dents is that the presentation and altar call at a youth camp is
often emotion-driven and full of pressure. Well, if you were a kid
and you knew there was only one night a year you would have a
chance to receive the Baptism, you would be emotional too! Kids
wouldn’t have to experience this if there was a more regular
opportunity to experience God’s promise of the Baptism under
the preaching of their pastor in their church.
Preaching a sermon series on the subject can allow the
pastor to explore the biblical foundations, expose barriers, and
build faith in the group. A series also places the Baptism at least
on the level with the annual dating series in February or the

evangelism emphasis leading up to the big community outreach.
At the minimum, regularly addressing how to live a Spirit-filled
life in the context of other sermon topics can help students—and
all believers—appropriate the Baptism as a part of their daily life
and not just once a year on Pentecost Sunday.
Use different vocabulary

It is amazing to me how words can mean different things
to different people. Terms such as “Pentecost,” “tongues,” “slain
in the Spirit” and “baptized in the Holy Spirit” all can evoke a dif-
ferent response based on an individual’s experience in the
religious world. Insiders may understand the meaning of these
terms, but people who come from a different church or do not
have any religious affiliation may be confused or uncomfortable.
Perhaps a new vocabulary that makes sense to the group
each pastor works with is the best option. I use different words to
describe what some would call obvious Pentecostal terms. Instead of
“tongues” I use the term “spiritual language.” When encouraging
students to operate in the prophetic gift, I use the term “God-
inspired words.” The point is, the terms we use need to invite the
people God has called us to serve into a deeper walk with the Spirit.
Use real-world illustrations

In our current church culture, much of the power prom-
ised by Jesus to be witnesses is only realized within the context of
a church service. This should not be. Without guidance, kids
could begin to think the baptism in the Holy Spirit is exercised by
sharing a gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12 and 13) with other
believers who are in a service. Preaching must serve to help young
Christians visualize utilizing the Baptism outside the church.
This can be accomplished by using common visual aids
and stories. For example, I wanted to show students at a camp
that a relationship with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you sud-
denly are out of range for temptation. You still have to say no to
sin. I told a story about my oldest son who really wanted to cut
our grass by using the family lawn mower. One day, I looked in
the backyard and David was pushing the low bar on the machine

and my wife had her arms around him on the high bar, and they
mowed the lawn together. David rushed into the house saying, “I
mowed the lawn!” It was true, he did mow the lawn, but it was
my wife who extended her arms around our son and helped him
push over the hills he couldn’t do on his own. I related this story
to the common disciplines of life we are called to live. When we
don’t have what it takes, the Holy Spirit helps us “finish the
lawn.” As I told that story, I had a lawn mower on the platform
in front of me. I listed common real-life difficulties the Holy
Spirit promises to help us push through.
Another illustration involves our spiritual language, or
tongues. Some kids struggle with how to implement this special
gift into their everyday life. I like to use the illustration of getting
lost in a forest. I don’t know where I am and I’m scared. I can
pull out a handheld GPS that bounces a signal off a satellite that
tells me where I am and gives me the courage to move on.
Similarly, when I’m in a public situation and don’t feel God’s
presence, I might feel lost in terms of what to do next. I can
speak in my spiritual language and know God is with me. When
I know God is with me, I have more courage to step out and
operate in other gifts. I can be in public school, pray, and then
speak a prophetic (God-inspired) word to someone, knowing
God is truly with me.
I think students are searching for ways to bridge all of
their Christian life to their world from their experiences in
church services. The more illustrations we give them of how this
can happen, the more likely they will live in the Word when they
go to school the next day.
Plan for a response time

Surprisingly, many preachers spend the majority of their
time preparing their message and decide to wing it during the altar
call. I’m a firm believer in every part of the altar call being consid-
ered beforehand. How will you make your appeal? Whom are you
asking to respond? Where do you want them to move? What do
they do when they are there? Do you want music? What songs?
What do you want the audience members who didn’t respond to

do? All these questions should be answered ahead of time.
My friend, Wayne Northup, is a youth evangelist who
has led thousands of teenagers to receive the Baptism and has
developed a specific process through which he takes everyone
who responds to an altar call. None of this process is a formula,
just a list of key things to cover in order to help students tap into
this amazing gift. I would recommend considering the following
thoughts as you prepare people for altar leadership.
STEPS
1. Make the altar call clear. Explain this is for students
who have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit
with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
2. Bring people forward, but emphasize you are going
to keep teaching so they don’t “zone out” into their
own prayer world.
3. Have the leaders/counselors come up behind them,
but do not allow them to touch the students or begin
to pray with them yet.
4. Explain the order of the altar time after everyone is
in place. This order can include,
a. Worship. This should continue until you feel the
atmosphere is ripe to move on. Make sure you
allow people to worship using their own words
as well as songs.
b. Have students ask Jesus for this gift of the bap-
tism in the Holy Spirit. You can have them
repeat a prayer after you or they can ask the Lord
in their own words to baptize them in His Spirit
with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
c. Have your leaders/counselors lay hands on the
students and begin to pray in their own prayer
language.
d. Encourage students to speak their new language
out loud.

Language
1. Begin with faith, not doubt. Encourage students that
this can be their night to receive.
2. Explain the order of the altar time again.
3. Pray in your prayer language.
4. Dispel myths such as:
a. You will feel something incredible.
b. You are copying someone else’s language.
c. God will talk for you.
5. At the end of the altar service, remind those who did
not receive that God loves them and encourage them
to keep seeking.
Atmosphere
1. Create an atmosphere of anticipation.
2. Build faith.
3. Focus on this as an opportunity, not a burden.
General Thoughts
1. Encourage students to position themselves somehow
in worship. Keep them engaged physically and their
spirit will follow.
2. Tell them to focus on Jesus.
3. Be in it for the long haul. Some students receive
quickly and others take awhile.
4. Don’t be afraid to talk them through the process if
they are struggling. Some need more teaching.
—WAYNE NORTHUP
The greatest encouragement I can give to students seek-

ing the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to ask them if they trust
Jesus with their life. Invariably they do, so I reaffirm that Jesus is
the Baptizer and they just need to ask Jesus to reveal that part of
himself to them.

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
FOR PREPARING VOLUNTEERS
How will you equip (Ephesians 4:11,12) the body to fulfill this
work of the ministry? There are often more questions than
answers concerning the specifics of how one is baptized in the
Holy Spirit. Most pastors have received some type of training in
the theological foundation of the Baptism but their volunteers
may only have a personal experience to draw from. It shouldn’t
surprise us when volunteers have questions. Their belief can only
be strengthened when questions can be asked, processed,
embraced, and answered.
I suggest having a meeting or a series of meetings to pro-
vide teaching and allow time for questions far in advance of any
preaching that will cover the Baptism and the altar call. In this
way, leaders are more prepared and can present a more confident
and faith-filled demeanor to the students they minister to at the
altar. A ten-minute teaching before service begins does not pro-
vide adequate time for leaders to process questions, and it should
not surprise us when that leader isn’t as prepared for the altar
service as we had hoped.
WORKING WITH DIFFERENT STUDENTS

Facilitating provides the environment, but there are also specific
issues to address in the training and preparation of volunteers.
Volunteer leaders will not only have a role at the altar time of a
service but also have contact with the students outside of the
service. These leaders need instruction on how to handle frus-
trated students, how to deal with “out of control” students, how
to make appropriate physical contact, and how to guide students
after the altar service.
It is very helpful to talk through scenarios that can occur
during an altar time. I suggest being very specific about what you
want and don’t want to happen. For example, do you want the

leadership team to come immediately to the front when the invi-
tation is given to the students? Do you want some leaders to stay
back? Whatever action you hope will take place, it is best if you
communicate it ahead of time.
Frustrated students
Handling frustrated students at the altar is a common
responsibility. You should let your volunteers know this can hap-
pen. Frustration has various causes. A student may have come
forward many times before and is frustrated after waiting again
through another altar time. Another student may be confused
about what is happening around them. Friends might see some-
thing they are personally not experiencing and feel left out.
Sometimes, insecurity can develop if a young person doesn’t feel
he or she is good enough to receive a gift from God. In all cases,
it is usually best to take a break with the student. The leader
should sit down and listen to the student, and then redirect his or
her attention to the promises that were mentioned in the message.
“Out of control” students

Every volunteer leader needs to know what to do when
unusual things happen. I served as a volunteer leader in a youth
ministry while attending college. I vividly remember a prayer
meeting where students were experiencing what has commonly
been referred to as being “drunk in the Spirit.” These students
were laughing and stumbling around the room. I really do think
God was touching these kids, but it was only five out of the
eighty people in the room who were experiencing God in this
way. At some point, the five “drunk” kids became a spectacle that
was distracting the other seventy-five from praying. The advice
of my youth pastor was poignant: “Take the kids out in the hall
and pray with them. If it is real, they will experience the same
thing without a crowd.”
It is fairly common for spiritual activity to stir up expres-
sions that have psychological origins. It is extremely important
for a pastor to use discernment and address the appropriate
action with either prayer or counseling. By training volunteers

before they face certain scenarios, you can give them confidence
to deal with the unknown.
Appropriate physical contact

Specific boundaries must be communicated in the area
of physical contact. In most situations, prayer should be gender
specific (males with males, females with females). Some basic
boundaries should include placing a hand only on the shoulder,
no rubbing or stroking of the back or neck, using discretion with
hugging, and giving an absolute prohibition to being alone with
a student. Finally, it may seem obvious, but in speaking of phys-
ical contact, breath mints are a good idea!
Taking it “to go”

The biggest challenge volunteer youth leaders face is
helping students transition from a service experience into their
everyday life. Students may have many questions about what this
experience means for the rest of their life. It is similar to a fast
food server asking, “Is this for here or to go?” Volunteer leaders
need training in how to encourage students to take it “to go”—to
live out the baptism in the Holy Spirit outside of church services.
I have a dream to see a new generation of pastors confi-

dently inspiring the generations to whom they minister to “wait
for the promise.” This means new communication tools, experi-
ences, and leaders will need to be developed and shared within
the ministry family. May we never take this journey without the
fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit ourselves. May God
grant you new wineskins as you lead the people God has called
you to shepherd!

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Produced by Access Group and

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated,

KJV indicates the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB®) are taken from the

Chapter One ..................................................................13

Chapter Two ............................................................27

Chapter Three ................................................................39

Chapter Five ..................................................................55

Chapter Six ....................................................................63

Chapter Eight ................................................................81

Ken Cramer and his wife, Holly, have a mandate from

Tim Enloe, and his wife, Rochelle, conduct Holy Spirit

Scott Erickson has served as senior pastor of the Peoples

Jim Gerhold has served as a children’s pastor for most of

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 7

Dick Gruber has served in leadership in children’s min-

Randy Hurst is Assemblies of God commissioner of evan-

Bill Juoni served as an Assemblies of God senior pastor

Nate Ruch served as a youth pastor from 1994 to 2003.

8 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

Pentecostals are at a critical crossroads concern-

Has the gift made a difference?

The authors of this book believe the answer to all three

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 9

10 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 11

THE NUTS AND BOLTS

My wife, Rochelle, and I have traveled in teaching

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 13

14 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

Misconception #2: Why

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 15

16 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 17

Misconception #3: Where

18 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 19

20 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF MINISTERING

Manners and Mannerisms

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 21

22 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 23

The Real Nuts and Bolts

24 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 25

26 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

In my Pentecostal upbringing, I really wanted the

THE PURPOSE OF THE

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 27

28 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

JESUS IS THE BAPTIZER

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached, “God has raised

THE NATURE OF THE

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 29

THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM IS A GIFT

30 HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT

THE GIFT IS RECEIVED BY FAITH

The tense used in the original language of the New

HELPING OTHERS RECEIVE THE GIFT 31

WHO DOES THE SPEAKING

THE PURPOSES OF PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT